stances threaten to trump even the
most rudimentary facts, we also must
acknowledge some of the fundamental
weaknesses of the format.
The G20 participants have to realise
that expansive, lofty agendas are
meaningless if one keeps on changing
priorities. Providing strategic outlooks
on global economic matters such as
international tax or financial regulation
will not be implementable if the
protagonists fail to educate the global
audience on the necessity of said
reforms. In troubled times, we have to
focus and communicate the core values
of the G20 community: Stability, Equal
Opportunity, Sustained Growth.
The members of this successful
mediation platform must reaffirm that
solutions for conflicts of interest should
always be found within this communal
framework rather than acting unilaterally,
eventually even at the expense of the
global community. This also means
striving always for a sensible discussion
of the challenges that come with the
continuous expanse of globalisation.
The G20 is the premier forum for
international economic cooperation.
It gained prominence when the
leaders of G20 countries came
together to shape the international
response to the 2008 global
financial crisis. Since then the
forum has expanded its agenda,
but it has failed to address challenges
arising from globalisation. Today,
a growing number of commentators
question its relevance. The British
exit from the European Union is
stern reminder that pure globalisation
cannot be implemented against the
will of the people without provoking
extreme reactions. ■
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