Bled Strategic Forum at the Munich Security Conference
Panel on the margins of Munich Security conference in cooperation between Bled Strategic Forum and BMW Foundation (17 February 2024)
The partnership between BMW Foundation and Bled Strategic Forum was forged years ago to put our creative minds together and unravel essential questions and issues in this new global geostrategic reality. Each year we try to promote inclusive discussions between political leaders, business, and civil society. We believe that frank, honest, and constructive dialogue is the only way forward if we want to build up a sustainable society based on shared values, norms, and standards.
This year, with the participation of Prime Minister of Slovenia Robert Golob, we organized together with the BMW Foundation a panel regarding the ongoing geopolitical transformation, where the power of rules and cooperation is being replaced by the rule of power and particular interests of big global powers. We are living in a contradiction, which is mind boggling, if you think about it: global community is faced with transboundary challenges, which can only be tackled together, and yet we seem to be drifting more and more apart, looking after our narrow interests and slowly going down the road of conflict and competition, rather than cooperation and solidarity. In a long run, this can only lead to one outcome, which, for the sake of new generations, needs to be avoided at all costs.
Can this process be overturned? It’s true, that historical cycles are inevitable and geostrategic, political and social changes are a natural part of human evolution, but the real question is: have we learned anything from history or we are going to repeat the same mistakes all over again? With the new tools and emerging technologies at our disposal, strategic mistakes are going to be more costly and more devastating for the future of our planet than anything we did before. Issues like climate change, if not dealt with efficiently, can irreversibly and profoundly change the course of history and at the end of the day our life on this planet.
What needs to be done? Firstly, we need to learn to listen better. We hear other voices, but we choose to disregard them and we are not paying attention to the problems, issues, and questions of others, be it countries, regions, businesses, or civil society. We need to bring back the power of dialogue and constructive discussions. We are living in silos, which are being further fortified by disinformation and fake news.
Secondly, we need to bring back the minimal layer of trust between major global players. Without trust, efficient dialogue is impossible. Trust can be achieved only through compromises, which put the common good in front of particular interests and goals. Easier said than done, but we are running out of time to make it right. United Nations, together with the Security Council, should become once again a platform for trying to find solutions and not trying to block them. Again, reform will be only possible, if there is common will and solidarity.
Peter Grk,
Bled Strategic Forum Secretary General
