Is the future more Bretton Woods or BRICS?

Welcome to Diplomatic Courier’s World This Month, which explores key trends in global affairs in the past month to keep you up to date.   

The BRICS organization—which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and five new members—held its summit at the same time as the IMF and World Bank this year. Given the polycrisis and political tensions, there has been speculation about the future of all these institutions. Other trending themes in this newsletter include a check–in on geopolitical hot spots and new ways of thinking about sustainability.

We hope you find these insights useful! As always, we welcome your comments or suggestions.

This newsletter is approximately a 5-min read.

Shane Szarkowski, PhD

Editor–in–Chief

Bretton Woods vs. BRICS?

Challenges from rapid innovation, turbulent economies, climate change, geopolitical tensions, and outright conflict mean we need global institutions more than ever. The Bretton Woods financial institutions need to evolve rapidly to face the future, even as BRICS proves it must be taken seriously.

• We cannot fail to take China at its word on a BRICS currency – Ian Ralby
• The IMF and World Bank must modernize or wane – Lisa Gable
• Another BRICS in the wall – Adam Ratzlaff
• Conflict resolution should be in World Bank, IMF mandates – Ambassador M. Ashraf Haidari

Checking in, geostrategically

With so many competition and conflict hot spots around the world today, keeping track is challenging. Here, contributors check in on what’s happening in two less well–known regions, along with a review of a book that challenges dominant narratives of Russia and European security.

• Shifting alliance put the Horn of Africa on edge – Samir Bhattacharya
• Securing displaced Armenians’ ‘right to return’ to Nagorno–Karabakh – David A. Grigorian and Ara Papian
• War, peace, and the future of European security – Joshua Huminski

A sustainability check–in

COP29 is just around the corner and sustainability conversations are about to start springing up around the media landscape. This month we feature some different angles on sustainability, from the EU’s leadership responsibility to where companies fail us—and how thrift infrastructures can help.

• The burden of influence: The EU’s role in driving a global energy transition – Amb. Thomas Matussek
• The cost of ignorance: How companies unwittingly fund environmental crime – Zacarías Saderup
• Advancing environmental justice through thrift infrastructures – Sadaf Taimur, Ph.D.

In case you missed it…

Other important reads from October include feature pieces from our network of experts on the occasion of three important days of observation: World Mental Health Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and World Food Day.

• Reclaiming our human–ness – Romana Shaikh (she/her)
• Evolving indigenous servant leadership to transform regulatory systems – Charlie Ursell
• Tech trends transforming humanitarian aid – Bernhard Kowatsch and Jay Mahanand

Thanks for reading!

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