Speakers

Can the UK prosper in an unruly world?

At the end of the 20th century, there was a consensus that liberal democracy and globalisation had triumphed and that our biggest threats had largely been defeated. Yet, this way of thinking now feels troublingly short-sighted.

Today, many western democracies face economic stagnation, institutional sclerosis and cultural division, at a time when geopolitical risks have increased. Global economic power is shifting east, war has erupted in Europe and the Middle East, mass migration and ageing are reshaping populations, and AI looks set to transform society. Political leaders are grappling with what to do.

Our summit last year, The Great Stagnation, explored ways to encourage economic growth and reinvigorate faith in progress. This year we will look at how the drive for progress and growth is affected by geopolitics, and how state capacity will need to adapt.

Will developed nations need to rebuild hard and soft power? How should leaders respond to trade wars, sanctions, and supply chain disruption? Will technological innovation be enough to tackle hostile forces or problems like climate change? Should governments try to increase industrial capacity? Will free markets and liberal ideas be less or more important in the face of national rivalry?

This conference gave me hope for the future of civil discourse in this country – a new generation of people eager to debate serious questions in a spirit of friendship and of fun.