Upcoming Program

Our current geopolitical era is often characterized by a growing concern about contestations and conflicts between “East” and “West”. This is not new. In “the West”, conceptions of “the East” as a threat to global stability have been a constant. From the Soviet Union to Russia to the Middle East, to East Asia, and more recently to China, portrayals of “the East” have often reinforced cultural and political biases and shaped the conditions for conflict.

At the same time, views of “the West” (from “the East”) have often focused on the contradictions of the “Western-led, rules-based international order,” suggesting that “the West” often disregards those rules whenever convenient (along the lines of the adage that Brittania does not only “rule the waves,” it also “waives the rules” when needed). These portrayals of “the West” often hinge on accusations of interference, hegemony, and colonialism, reinforcing cultural and political biases, and – again – have often shaped the conditions for conflict. 

The emergence of China and India as global economic, technological, and military powers creates a new era of multi-polar competition and shifts the geopolitical balance of power further “Eastward”. How will this emerging system deal with new threats and risks? Can complex questions about the future of the “international rules-based order” be resolved? Or are we moving in the direction of new conflicts? Is there something to be done to expand connections and exchanges between people in ways that increase understanding and reduce the risk of misunderstanding and conflict? What kinds of innovations and collaborations in education, health, science, and technology are needed to lead the way toward peace and progress?

In 2024, our annual “Salzburg Global Weekend” will “Look East” to better understand the assumptions and expectations of “East and West” and explore the drivers and dynamics that will influence the next decades of global cooperation, competition, and – potentially – conflict.

Throughout the weekend, a diverse group of speakers and Salzburg Global Fellows will discuss the various assumptions and expectations of “East and West”, including questions of democracy, sovereignty, technology, and cultural and educational exchange – and how they will shape the new emerging world order of the 21st century.