Ian Bremmer

Following events like the financial crisis, global recession, and the Arab Spring, we have officially entered what political analyst Ian Bremmer refers to as “The New Abnormal:” a period defined by its heightened geopolitical and market volatility. Factor in that all these crises are occurring against the backdrop of a G-Zero World—a world in which no country is able to adequately set the international agenda—and we have a turbulent political forecast ahead. A leaderless world poses significant challenges; the challenge in our ability to keep peace with Asia and the Middle East, in our quest to grow the global economy, and in the likelihood we will reverse the devastating effects of climate change. No nation in the world will escape the effects of The New Abnormal. In this talk, Bremmer artfully explains how the global balance of power will shift during this fraught period, and what we can do to protect the economy, our natural resources, and our national security in the meantime.

Following WWII, America set out to create a world order in its own image, and effectively became the leading superpower in the process. The new order worked in favor of U.S. interests, but also served those who accepted the American way, leading to a rise of advanced industrial democracies underpinned by a liberal international order. Today, the world has fundamentally changed, and the rising emerging markets are typically poorer, less diplomatically experienced, and much less stable than their post-WWII counterparts. This change will have drastic effects for the American-led order, and the global order at large. In this talk, Ian Bremmer explains the causes and consequences of a fractured global order—namely geopolitical conflict and lack of leadership—how the U.S. can move forward in uncertain times, and what investment strategies to adopt for the future ahead.

In this fascinating talk, Ian Bremmer explains the rise of state capitalism in countries such as China, Russia, and the Arab monarchies along the Persian Gulf. Following the collapse of communism, these authoritarian states have begun manipulating the markets to create the means to a political end. From governments that control domestic economic sectors, to the state-owned oil companies that possess the majority of the world’s crude oil reserves, Bremmer explains how the rise of state capitalism threatens the global economy, and more specifically, free market capitalism.