The “perfect global storm” consists of four factors:
- the war,
- Artificial Intelligence,
- climate change and
- the economy.
These four factors coexist today as escalating crises.
The war is raging between Russia – Ukraine, the Middle East is boiling, while there are fronts in many other regions – from Asia to Latin America.
Artificial Intelligence is rampant, producing its own fake news, overturning everything we’ve known, and can be harnessed by extremely dangerous groups and leaders.
Climate change is evident with the rising temperature of the planet and no country, apart from those of the European Union, is taking decisive measures to deal with it. Since the European Union produces a total of only 7% of the world’s pollutants, whatever measures it takes to eliminate them will not be enough to improve global conditions.
The economy is at risk from all these crises on the one hand, but it is also at risk from the rampant inequality that accumulates all the money in the few and impoverishes everyone else worldwide.
The world’s leaders are called upon to confront these four crises. But at this moment, a very serious leadership problem is visible everywhere.
Putin wants to rebuild Great Russia, and pretending to be the defender, he attacks. The US is experiencing an unprecedented split between Republicans and Democrats with Trump in charge, which is the extreme manifestation of American isolationism. He wants the USA isolated, walled off and without geopolitical interference abroad, he is against free international trade, he wants tariffs and embargoes. Especially for us, Trump has two very negative characteristics: he is anti-European and he has excellent relations with Erdogan.
European leadership is overall “little”. The re-election of von der Leyen to the position of the president of the Commission rather ensures the perpetuation of the major problems facing the EU. despite their resolution. No EU country lacking a prominent personality with a vision for Europe, the Old Continent is showing its age and following developments without leading.
Unfortunately, all the crises of the “storm” primarily affect Europe due to geopolitical position, due to lack of military power, due to technological lag vis-a-vis the USA and Asia and – above all – due to lack of cohesion.
In the meantime, all international organizations (OECD, IMF, etc.), as well as major investment banks, recognize the existence of very large risks for the global economy, with economic inequality at the top, which can cause major uprisings and humanitarian crises. , e.g. Goldman Sachs, which even foresee a major crisis in the US stock markets and strong pressures in the European ones. The indecisiveness of the European Central Bank (ECB) to reduce interest rates as it fears a resurgence of inflation is also indicative.
