Valdai Club

On February 28, the Valdai Club hosted the presentation of its new report, “Charting the 2040: Younger Generation Insight on the World in the Making”, timed to coincide with the Club’s Youth Conference as part of the World Youth Festival.

In our rapidly changing world, it is natural for the Valdai Club to reach out to the younger generation of scientists. The report “Charting the 2040: Younger Generation Insight on the World in the Making” was prepared through the efforts of experts under age 35. This is a large international team uniting Russians and groups of foreign authors, both from the countries of the World Majority and some Western states.

The report presents a forecast for the development of the world system in 2040. Fifteen years ago, researchers understood the main international trends, and the events taking place today are a logical continuation of these large processes. The world has entered a period when major leading powers compete with each other usingevery means at their disposal. Regional and local crises are becoming a constant and the norm of international life. However, we can say with confidence that the progressive development of humanity will continue. The authors put forward a list of hypotheses regarding what crossroads the world faces today and what development scenarios are possible.

The international community’s general opinion is that by 2040, it will be possible to arrive at a new international balance. It will become clear that hegemony is no longer possible, that it is necessary to recognise the right of large centres of power to their own sovereign ways of thinking. Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the 20^thAnnual Meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, noted with optimism: “I have always believed in the power of common sense. Therefore, I am convinced that sooner or later, both the new centres of the multipolar international order and the West will have to start a dialogue on an equal footing about a common future for us all, and the sooner the better, of course.” Despite their different national experiences, both Russian and international authors of the report share the President’s optimistic view of the emergence of a new, more equitable world order.

Representatives of the team of authors voiced their key conclusions at the presentation.

• Sophia Datta, Master’s Student at Johns Hopkins University, Master’s Student at Tsinghua University (USA)
• Tian Kang, PhD Student at Tsinghua University, Faculty of International Relations (China)
• Adlan Margoev, Lecturer at the Department of Oriental Studies at MGIMO University of the Russian Foreign Ministry
• Nikita Neklyudov, Lecturer at the Department of Applied Analysis of International Problems at MGIMO University of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia

• Andrey Sushentsov, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club