Shifting Power Dynamics: Escalating conflict and geopolitical tension / The Buttonwood Gathering

The Buttonwood Gathering 2015
February 10th / New York, NY

A quarter of a century since the fall of the Berlin Wall, political tension and mistrust has resurrected between the US and Russia, and their respective allies. But more than that, instability abounds throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa, as well as pockets in Asia and Latin America. Will the lost legitimacy of regimes from Libya, Syria and beyond, give way to new order based on sect or ethnicity? With the cost of “disruption” dropping dramatically while the costs of establishing and policing order steadily rising, how can we best mitigate political and economic risks? How great and imminent are the military and cyber security threats? What can companies and investors do to protect themselves against financial and brand exposure? What policies may help? What are the implications of a blossoming Sino-Russian relationship? What do these changes mean for energy prices, exchange rates and beyond? How will competition between the US and Saudi Arabia for market share in global oil production continue to pay out? What are the short and long term implications for energy investments, renewables, and oil independence?

Richard Clarke
Former US National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-terrorism

Todd Kantor
Founder and portfolio manager, Encompass Capital Advisors

David Foley
Senior managing director and chief executive, Blackstone Energy Partners

Zanny Minton Beddoes
Editor-in-chief, The Economist