Since 2003 the Rhodes Forum has brought together leaders from the business, academic, diplomatic and political communities, including current and former heads of state and government, to discuss crucial issues facing the world today. Throughout its history, its hallmark has been the pioneering spirit, inclusiveness, and moral resilience of its participants in their work to tackle the problems we face. Discussions on the most pressing issues of the international agenda. Networking and brainstorm platform for finding the solutions. Senior policy makers, respected academics and researchers, top media.

The Rhodes Forum aims to facilitate a better understanding of the deep changes our societies are undergoing. It will shed light on initiatives that contribute substantially towards sustainable economic development; propose new concepts for the architecture of international governance in the context of shifts in power within the global economy; and it will examine the restoration of civility and promotion of ethical standards in the digital age.

Sustainable
economic
development

As the possibility of a global recession looms, the rise of China and India are interesting cases to consider. Against the background of a spectacular record on poverty reduction for millions of Chinese citizens, does the Chinese approach have strong appeal for other struggling economies? Does the Indian model of economic  development offer a promising pathway to sustainable development based on  democratic foundations? Can solutions be found to solve the problem of global inequality, erase poverty, and simultaneously curb greenhouse gas emissions to meet globally agreed climate policy targets? What would a new model of economic development look like?

Global architecture and global (geo)politics

Today, we are witnessing a reconfiguration – some would say a disintegration – of international institutions and the rise of potential new orders that could completely change the architecture of international governance. The Belt and Road Initiative finds support but also raises concerns about the emergence of a new system of hubs which may alter the character of multilateral cooperation.
New forms of diplomacy in the spheres of science and culture are changing the
conventional practices of international relations. The Forum will discuss emerging forms of international governance, the potential leaders of these movements, and the broader question of how to promote intercivilisational dialogue.

Digitalised lives, ethical standards, and the revival of civility

Many would agree that global public discourse today has moved away from civilised interpersonal exchange into coarse, unrefined, and unrestrained language that undermines norms that have long been considered basic standards of dialogue between people and civilisations. The internet has become a
powerful tool in facilitating this form of public exchange. In an era of digitalisation, public policy has yet to adequately address the use of
global digital space with the purpose of promoting harmony and social cohesion but without curtailing personal freedom and democratic norms. The return to civility is an important condition for human civilisations to thrive in the era of digitalisation.