Best of Times / Worst of Times: An Exploration of the Current World Order
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way.
The opening text from Charles Dickens ‘A Tale of Two Cities’, written in 1859 about the French Revolution that had taken place seventy years earlier, seems to be as relevant as this morning’s news headlines. Depending on who you listen to and where you get your information from, we are either in the midst of the greatest period of health, wealth and prosperity the world has ever known, or on the edge of a cataclysmic political, social, technological and planetary systems-level collapse that will impact on every aspect of our communal existence.
As Professor Francis J Gavin wrote in a recent essay (which is the inspiration for this week’s Global Risk Forum), ‘We live in an era of historically unimaginable wealth, knowledge about ourselves and the natural, physical world, extraordinary technological advances, and security from the natural and human threats that tormented humanity since millennia. Yet people appear deeply angry and anxious. Contemporary politics are as often fuelled by rage, fear, resentment, and humiliation as by material interest’.
This Global Risk Forum Special Session will be an opportunity to explore these issues from multiple perspectives, bringing to the table the personal experiences and insights of our global community.
Join the GRF 416 & GRF 417 Special Focus Session ‘Best of Times / Worst of Times: An Exploration of the Current World Order’ to discuss, share ideas and connect the dots.
- Global Risk Forum 416
- Thursday, 26th February at 17:00 GMT / 12:00 EDT
- REGISTRATION >>
- Global Risk Forum 417
- Friday, 27th February at 10:00 GMT
- REGISTRATION >>
This Global Risk Forum Special Session will be an opportunity to explore these issues from multiple perspectives, bringing to the table the personal experiences and insights of our global community.
