Global Insights

In the midst of economic collapse and ongoing demonstrations, Lebanese citizens were awaiting the verdict of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which was to issue its ruling on the 2005 assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on August 7th. However, days before this announcement, Beirut was devastated by an explosion that left thousands homeless, wounded, or dead. In response to accusations of negligence, the Lebanese cabinet soon resigned en masse, leading many to wonder how the relief process will move forward. Will the verdict of the Special Tribunal, now to be released on August 18th, introduce accountability to a country plagued by turmoil? Join us when Nadim Shehadi, Executive Director of the Lebanese American Universtiy New York Headquarters and Academic Center and Associate Fellow of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, discusses the forces that led Lebanon to such a tragic situation.
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This Virtual Briefing Series event was originally hosted on August 20th, 2020.
Upcoming events: https://network2020.org/upcoming-events/
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In the final weeks of December 2010, Tunisia erupted into conflict over mounting social and economic discontent, soon giving rise to pro-democracy protests in other countries of the Middle East and North Africa. Looking back after ten years, it is clear that though the protesters may have called for the same reforms, the outcomes of the movement varied widely from country to country. Why did the Arab Spring produce such disparate results? Join us for a discussion of this question and more, as Lisa Anderson, James T. Shotwell Professor Emerita of International Relations at Columbia University, moderates a panel between Safwan Masri, Executive Vice President for Global Centers and Global Development at Columbia University; Marina Ottaway, Middle East Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center; and Shadi Hamid, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.
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This Virtual Briefing Series event was originally hosted on December 9th, 2020.
Music by Joseph McDade.
Upcoming events: https://network2020.org/upcoming-events/
Follow us at:
Twitter: @Network2020
LinkedIn: Network 20/20
Facebook: @network2020
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Does democracy lead to economic prosperity and growth? This question dates back to Plato and Aristotle’s debate regarding which form of government brings more political and economic gains to society. While the United States has sought to promote democracy and liberal values abroad for decades with a belief that democracy will lead to economic prosperity, many countries around the world do not agree with that. Should democracy or economic prosperity be the measurement of success for countries? Which should come first in a country’s priority list, especially developing countries? Join us to hear the answer from our distinguished speakers, Professor Danny Quah, Li Ka Shing Professor in Economics and Dean at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, and Dr. Larry Diamond, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI) and a Bass University Fellow in Undergraduate Education at Stanford University
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This Virtual Briefing Series event was originally hosted on October 28th, 2021.
Music by Joseph McDade.
Upcoming events: https://network2020.org/upcoming-events/
Follow us at:
Twitter: @Network2020
LinkedIn: Network 20/20
Facebook: @network2020
Instagram: @network_2020

The term ‘de-risking’ has emerged as a central theme in discussions of the U.S.-China relationship, commanding attention from scholars, economists, and policymakers who are exploring strategies to diversify U.S. economic ties away from China. Since its introduction in March 2023, both the Biden administration and the G-7 have incorporated ‘de-risking’ into their discourse to describe their trade and investment policies concerning China. The widespread adoption of this concept prompts important questions about Washington’s implementation of ‘de-risking’ and its potential implications for U.S.-China business relations and the broader economy. As the United States. pursues ‘de-risking,” how might this strategy affect trade and investment between the United States and China? What steps could China take to respond to U.S. ‘de-risking’ efforts, and how might this impact the global economic landscape?

Join us in a discussion that explores ‘de-risking’ from the U.S. perspective and its potential repercussions on the global economy. Our speakers for this ‘De-risking’ discussion are Diana Choyleva, Chief Economist at the China-focused macroeconomic, political, and geopolitical forecasting company, Enodo Economics, and Dr. Elvire Fabry, Senior Research Fellow at the Jacques Delors Institute.
Intro Music: Meditative Space by MaxKoMusic
/ maxkomusic https://protunes.net/ MaxKoMusic - Meditative Space (Scienc...

The rise of autocracy and illiberalism has concerned many observers, even those covering the mainstream political discourse of the world’s largest democracies. Thirty years after Francis Fukuyama wrote about the triumph of liberal democracy, it is clear that illiberalism remains a pressing concern in the twenty-first century; what’s less clear is how we should interpret this illiberal wave sweeping across the world. Join us for a discussion about what history can tell us about the relationship between democracy and illiberal regimes with Dr. Sheri Berman, Professor of Political Science at Barnard College, Columbia University.