College voor Young Professionals

Economic, political and social globalization has empowered non-state actors, from multinational corporations (such as Unilever, Shell or Toyota) to global terrorist networks such as al-Qaida. The European Union is currently facing the biggest ever experiment of political and social integration. At the same time, political rivalries among states, for example the US and China, as well as the increased economic competition for scarce resources have led to the reemergence of power politics among governments. How can this coexistence of increased globalization, global governance and power politics be explained?

Global problems often require global solutions. With governments frequently failing to provide public goods and a world government not in reach, voluntary, market-based approaches and public-private partnerships are emerging as potentially viable alternatives. However, corporations, international organizations and non-profit actors often lack the democratic legitimacy to act on our behalf. Should these actors be trusted with finding solutions to global warming, poverty, child mortality and global terrorism? What is the role of ambitious projects of political, economic and social integration (for example the European Union) and could these be exported to other regions?

Analysts see the current global financial, economic and monetary crisis and an indicator for the failure of the current global order. The world's 225 richest individuals, of whom 60 are Americans, have a combined wealth of over $1 trillion – equal to the annual income of the poorest 47% of the entire world's population. This situation is not sustainable. However, what visions exist for a better future? How will we live in 2050? This lecture explores scenarios of world politics during the next 8 decades.