Global Risk

In the last year, certain worrisome trends grew darker, and new ones arose. The Arab Spring continued to devolve into the Arab Nightmare, with an expanding body count in Syria and the violent toppling of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood regime by the army. Meanwhile, Edward Snowden was downloading a treasure trove of secrets from the National Security Agency, giving the world a glimpse of America's zeal - and capacity - for snooping. Iran proceeded with its nuclear program and negotiations started between the theocratic state and the P5 + 1 countries, just as world watchers began to take notice of the protests erupting in Ukraine. With North Korea more brutal and unhinged than ever, Afghanistan's Karzai feuding with his U.S. partners and Russia's worsening relations with the West, what will the world look like a few years from now? What are the scenarios for resolution of these troubles, and where will the next risks emerge? What about the global economy, terrorism, climate change? This panel will peer into the future, sans rose-colored spectacles.