International cooperation, not a danger to national independence, but its contemporary manifestation
In the modern world, where geopolitical fragmentation is on the rise and trade protectionism is becoming more prevalent, a prominent voice is advocating for a shift in perspective. The need to redefine the metrics of development and rethink the global financial architecture is gaining traction, as the "Beyond GDP" conversation continues to gather momentum.
This call to action comes from a speaker who champions moving away from the narrative of "aid" or "assistance" towards one of "cooperation." The speaker, who prefers the term "Global Majority" over "Global South," believes that the current system is outdated and no longer serves the needs of an interconnected world.
The speaker's vision is rooted in the words of Dr. Henry Kissinger, a prominent American diplomat and political scientist, who once said, "The best way to guarantee one's national interest is through international cooperation." Kissinger, who served as U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor during the 1970s, often emphasized the importance of diplomacy and multilateral engagement in securing national interests.
In the context of the Cold War and the evolving nature of global diplomacy, Kissinger argued that purely unilateral actions were often less effective or even counterproductive. Instead, working with other nations—through alliances, treaties, and international institutions—was a more reliable way to advance a country's security, economic interests, and global influence.
The speaker's vision reflects this approach, advocating for a balance of power and pragmatic cooperation to manage conflicts, prevent escalation, and foster stability. This view is echoed in the strategy of détente, which sought to ease tensions between nations by promoting dialogue and collaboration rather than confrontation.
In the 21st century, this vision translates into a need for redefining sovereignty, with a focus on cooperative sovereignty and sovereignty in the service of humanity. The speaker notes a crisis of priorities, not a crisis of resources, and that this challenges the very essence of collective action and multilateralism.
The speaker is following the negotiations of the Fourth UN Conference on Financing for Development, which Spain will host at the end of June. The goal for a new financial architecture should be a more systemic redesign, addressing not only liquidity but also rethinking metrics, instruments, and governance structures.
The speaker is also concerned about the current state of the United Nations, which is undergoing a profound crisis, currently lacking resources, political traction, and facing a significant performance challenge. The speaker is advocating for network multilateralism, grounded in interdependence, as a means to address the disconnection between citizens and their role as global citizens.
In the economic sphere, the speaker highlights the geography of financial flows as an area that needs to be re-discussed. The speaker points out that in 2021-2022, the Global North imported 96 trillion hours of labor from the South, while exporting just 80 trillion. The speaker also notes the lending capacity of multilateral banks is much less than the remittances sent by migrant workers each year.
The speaker also mentions the need to reform the international financial architecture and rethink the economy of development. The UN's system of environmental economic accounting is mentioned as a tool for better valuing contributions from the "Global South." The speaker is following initiatives like the Debt Relief and Green and Inclusive Recovery Project and the need for a global fiscal pact to address debt and tax evasion issues.
Governments and nations are reorganizing their priorities amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty. The speaker organised their thoughts into three sections: revisiting analytic categories, examining the current financial architecture, and discussing governance of commons and public goods. The keynote speech was part of the Berlin Forum on Global Cooperation 2025 and can be listened to online.
In conclusion, the call for cooperation and the redefinition of development and global finance is a timely and necessary conversation. The speaker's vision reflects a pragmatic and cooperative approach to addressing the challenges facing the world today, echoing the wisdom of Dr. Henry Kissinger: "The best way to guarantee one's national interest is through international cooperation."
- In the evolving landscape of cooperation, the speaker proposes Europa's engagement in a redefined financial architecture, aiming to foster business relationships and integration between the Global Majority and the Global North.
- In line with the approach of pragmatic cooperation, the speaker calls for the European Union to cooperatively reconsider its financial strategy, taking into account the imbalance in the geography of financial flows and the importance of network multilateralism for addressing the dis connection between citizens and their role as global citizens.
