Global Dialogue and Community Building in a Transitioning World
An in-depth interview with Professor Giancarlo Elia Valori about the matters that affect us all, as we try to navigate in the new world order
Giancarlo Elia Valori
| 27/09/2023
Professor Giancarlo Elia Valori. Photo: courtesy
1. The community with a shared future for mankind is a Chinese proposal to jointly address global challenges and create a better future for humanity. Under this proposal, China advocates adhering to dialogue and consultation, building a world of lasting peace," adhering to joint development and shared benefits, building a world of universal security, adhering to win-win cooperation, building a world of common prosperity, adhering to exchanges and mutual learning, building an open and inclusive world, adhering to green and low-carbon development, building a clean and beautiful world. This is the beautiful vision of the community with a shared future for mankind presented by China in the new era. Can you share your understanding of the community with a shared future for mankind? Why does the world need to build such a community?
The world is going through major changes never seen in a century. On the one hand, the historical tendency towards peace - or rather the consciousness of the need to eliminate at least irreparable world conflicts, which are fatal for the planet - as well as the tendency to development, cooperation, and mutual benefit are unstoppable. On the other hand, hegemonism and bullying between countries and peoples cause great harm, and the international community faces unprecedented challenges, with the world once again at the crossroads of history. Building a community with a shared future is a key issue for mankind. It helps the international community to face the new challenges posed by major changes and to work together.
Furthermore, the strategic goal of conforming to the trend of the times is needed. Nowadays a new scientific and technological revolution represented by information technology is advancing. The Internet has changed the world and the international community has become ever closer. Therefore, a future must be shared also in cyberspace, i.e. common development, enhanced security, and joint participation in governance and commitment to jointly sharing results. Responsibility and interests for the benefit of all mankind are among the first strategic goals.
But while it is true that the Internet has actually promoted the advancement of human civilisation, at the same time it has brought with it a series of new threats and challenges to the sovereignty of countries and peoples, as well as to the security and development interests of every State. Hegemonism and power politics in cyberspace have become increasingly evident. Protectionism and unilateralism have continued to increase. Cyberattacks and crimes are becoming ever more severe.
Respect for network sovereignty, the maintenance of peace and security, the promotion of open cooperation and the building of a good order are necessary, as they provide a guide to building a community with a shared future in cyberspace. We must not forget the advances in Artificial Intelligence technology that - heaven forbid! - should not turn into a new lethal weapon of one against the other.
A further step for a shared future is to improve human welfare and wellbeing. We also need cultural exchanges to promote knowledge and mutual learning; innovative economic development for common prosperity; ensuring international security and fostering orderly development; building a system of global governance based on the jus gentium, which has been in crisis since the early 2000s; strengthening the authority of the United Nations, whose documents are all too often just dead letter; advancing equity and justice to provide a practical approach and a pathway to peace.
2. In the context of unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonism continuously impacting the international order, why does the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind resonate?
Unilateralism refers to a certain major power that alone - regardless of the wishes of the majority of countries and citizens - takes the initiative to withdraw or defy the rules and regulations that have been drafted and negotiated to maintain international, regional and collective peace. These systems, behaviours and tendencies have destructive effects and consequences on global or local peace, development and progress.
Hence, a reform of the World Trade Organisation is necessary, so that it adheres to the principle of opposing protectionism and unilateralism, and contributes to promoting the process of trade liberalisation and investment facilitation worldwide, so as to serve the principle of non-discrimination among peoples.
As is well known, hegemonism - instead - refers to the oppression, domination, interference and subversion of small, weak and poor countries by large, powerful and rich countries. It does not respect the independence and sovereignty of others and exercises control and rule by force. Hegemonism includes global and regional hegemonism. In modern times, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands (the then Republic of the Seven United Provinces, 1581-1795), England (since 1801 the United Kingdom), France, Germany, Russia/the USSR/Russia, Japan and the United States of America have all attempted to gain world hegemony, later repainted by some of the aforementioned countries with a veneer of neo-colonialism in disguise. What can I say about hegemonism? Just see history. With a view to keeping peace, the only solution is to counter it.
Professor Giancarlo Elia Valori is a world-renowned Italian economist and international relations expert, who serves as the President of the International World Group. In 1995, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem dedicated the Giancarlo Elia Valori chair of Peace and Regional Cooperation. Prof. Valori also holds chairs for Peace Studies at Yeshiva University in New York and at Peking University in China. Among his many honors from countries and institutions around the world, Prof. Valori is an Honorable of the Academy of Science at the Institute of France, as well as Knight Grand Cross and Knight of Labor of the Italian Republic.
An in-depth interview with Professor Giancarlo Elia Valori about the matters that affect us all, as we try to navigate in the new world order
Professor Giancarlo Elia Valori. Photo: courtesy
1. The community with a shared future for mankind is a Chinese proposal to jointly address global challenges and create a better future for humanity. Under this proposal, China advocates adhering to dialogue and consultation, building a world of lasting peace," adhering to joint development and shared benefits, building a world of universal security, adhering to win-win cooperation, building a world of common prosperity, adhering to exchanges and mutual learning, building an open and inclusive world, adhering to green and low-carbon development, building a clean and beautiful world. This is the beautiful vision of the community with a shared future for mankind presented by China in the new era. Can you share your understanding of the community with a shared future for mankind? Why does the world need to build such a community?
The world is going through major changes never seen in a century. On the one hand, the historical tendency towards peace - or rather the consciousness of the need to eliminate at least irreparable world conflicts, which are fatal for the planet - as well as the tendency to development, cooperation, and mutual benefit are unstoppable. On the other hand, hegemonism and bullying between countries and peoples cause great harm, and the international community faces unprecedented challenges, with the world once again at the crossroads of history. Building a community with a shared future is a key issue for mankind. It helps the international community to face the new challenges posed by major changes and to work together.
Furthermore, the strategic goal of conforming to the trend of the times is needed. Nowadays a new scientific and technological revolution represented by information technology is advancing. The Internet has changed the world and the international community has become ever closer. Therefore, a future must be shared also in cyberspace, i.e. common development, enhanced security, and joint participation in governance and commitment to jointly sharing results. Responsibility and interests for the benefit of all mankind are among the first strategic goals.
But while it is true that the Internet has actually promoted the advancement of human civilisation, at the same time it has brought with it a series of new threats and challenges to the sovereignty of countries and peoples, as well as to the security and development interests of every State. Hegemonism and power politics in cyberspace have become increasingly evident. Protectionism and unilateralism have continued to increase. Cyberattacks and crimes are becoming ever more severe.
Respect for network sovereignty, the maintenance of peace and security, the promotion of open cooperation and the building of a good order are necessary, as they provide a guide to building a community with a shared future in cyberspace. We must not forget the advances in Artificial Intelligence technology that - heaven forbid! - should not turn into a new lethal weapon of one against the other.
A further step for a shared future is to improve human welfare and wellbeing. We also need cultural exchanges to promote knowledge and mutual learning; innovative economic development for common prosperity; ensuring international security and fostering orderly development; building a system of global governance based on the jus gentium, which has been in crisis since the early 2000s; strengthening the authority of the United Nations, whose documents are all too often just dead letter; advancing equity and justice to provide a practical approach and a pathway to peace.
2. In the context of unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonism continuously impacting the international order, why does the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind resonate?
Unilateralism refers to a certain major power that alone - regardless of the wishes of the majority of countries and citizens - takes the initiative to withdraw or defy the rules and regulations that have been drafted and negotiated to maintain international, regional and collective peace. These systems, behaviours and tendencies have destructive effects and consequences on global or local peace, development and progress.
Hence, a reform of the World Trade Organisation is necessary, so that it adheres to the principle of opposing protectionism and unilateralism, and contributes to promoting the process of trade liberalisation and investment facilitation worldwide, so as to serve the principle of non-discrimination among peoples.
As is well known, hegemonism - instead - refers to the oppression, domination, interference and subversion of small, weak and poor countries by large, powerful and rich countries. It does not respect the independence and sovereignty of others and exercises control and rule by force. Hegemonism includes global and regional hegemonism. In modern times, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands (the then Republic of the Seven United Provinces, 1581-1795), England (since 1801 the United Kingdom), France, Germany, Russia/the USSR/Russia, Japan and the United States of America have all attempted to gain world hegemony, later repainted by some of the aforementioned countries with a veneer of neo-colonialism in disguise. What can I say about hegemonism? Just see history. With a view to keeping peace, the only solution is to counter it.
Professor Giancarlo Elia Valori is a world-renowned Italian economist and international relations expert, who serves as the President of the International World Group. In 1995, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem dedicated the Giancarlo Elia Valori chair of Peace and Regional Cooperation. Prof. Valori also holds chairs for Peace Studies at Yeshiva University in New York and at Peking University in China. Among his many honors from countries and institutions around the world, Prof. Valori is an Honorable of the Academy of Science at the Institute of France, as well as Knight Grand Cross and Knight of Labor of the Italian Republic.
