The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released its annual report, the Global Cooperation Barometer, revealing that global cooperation has slowed down due to rising geopolitical tensions and instability. However, the report highlights areas of hope, particularly in climate finance, health, and innovation.
The WEFβs report shows that after a positive trend for a decade, cooperation levels have stagnated, especially post-pandemic. The Barometer uses 41 indicators to assess the current state of global cooperation and aims to provide leaders with a tool for understanding the dynamics of international collaboration.
Borge Brende, President and CEO of the WEF, emphasized that despite turbulent geopolitical conditions, cooperation remains essential for addressing key economic, environmental, and technological challenges. While the world is shifting from the stable cooperative environment of the post-Cold War era to a more fragmented one, the report underscores the need for global collaboration in tackling issues such as climate change and technology governance.
Despite the ongoing security crises, the report points out that cooperation continues in areas like vaccine distribution, scientific research, and renewable energy development, presenting models for future international collaboration. Although geopolitical competition is rising, particularly in technologies such as semiconductors, cooperation in technology and innovation advanced in 2023, partly driven by the digitization of the global economy.
This has spurred the adoption of new technologies, an increase in critical mineral supplies, a decrease in lithium battery prices, and a rebound in student mobility. However, emerging technologies like AI are disrupting the global landscape, potentially leading to new forms of geostrategic competition or an “AI arms race.”
