Confronted by ongoing wars, new governments coming to power and rapid technological developments, the global economy faces much uncertainty. Moreover, global cooperation levels remain stagnant.
“Global cooperation is at a crossroads,” the World Economic Forum’s latest Global Collaboration Barometer states. “While overall collaboration has flatlined, driven by heightened geopolitical tensions and instability, positive momentum in areas of climate and nature, innovation and technology, and health and wellness offer hope.”
Economic headwinds and geopolitical challenges were a major topic of discussion at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos, Switzerland.
At the gathering, we asked four experts to share their thoughts on the future of global collaboration. Here's what they had to say.
Challenges can be a source of inspiration, not despair
Sir Richard Moore, Chief of the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), discussed evolving technologies such as AI and biotechnology and why it’s important to harness their benefits while protecting against the dangers they present.
“You can hear people discussing both the upsides of those technologies and also the potential for misuse,” he said. “And of course, that's an issue on which my service and I focus a lot. We are very keen that that technology is used and exploited in a way that will benefit mankind and not increase the dangers.”
However, Moore said that events such as the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting that foster in-person interaction give him hope that continued partnerships can stand up to conflict.
“As we try and tackle the really big global geopolitical issues, if it's Ukraine, if it's Middle East, if it's some of the other issues on the international agenda, the sort of spirit of collaboration and cooperation, which the World Economic Forum is trying to achieve here at Davos is very helpful.
“It can seem like a scary world. I've said publicly this is the most contested world I've seen in 37 years as an intelligence officer. But that's not a source of sort of fuel for despair. That's not a reason for despair. That's a reason to club together,” he said.
People have the power to drive change
Bronwen Maddox, Director and Chief Executive of Chatham House, shared that despite uncertainty and fragmentation, it is important to remember that influential partnerships and alliances have been able to hold firm.
“We shouldn't forget that the bedrock of an interconnected world is still working and there's still this huge degree of mobility. Even though we're in a time when it is essential to talk about globalization being rolled back and collaboration not working, there is still quite a lot there,” she said.
To move towards a more positive trajectory, she added that it’s important for people to remember the power they have and the pressure they can exert on global leadership.
“People's voices do count. It's an easy thing to say, but I think they really do count. People may feel impotent, but they're not,” Maddox said. “In countries that are democratic, people have really quite a lot of influence. Even a tiny bit of inflation is pretty difficult for politicians to deal with. They have to respond to the very immediate concerns of people about the cost of living and so on.”
Opportunities are fleeting but efforts must be long-term
Dr Comfort Ero, Crisis Group's President & CEO, was clear on the present and future dangers faced if collaboration efforts are not improved.
“Given the rise in wars that we're seeing and the humanitarian catastrophes, the level of human suffering, civilian protection in decline, you need to find a way in which to ensure that the crisis management conflict resolution system is working.” she said. “And right now it's frail. It's under challenge.”
However, she said the ceasefire in Gaza was a good example of how long-term efforts and agility can combine to bring about a response. While discussions had been ongoing long before Donald Trump's inauguration, this change in the US administration provided a new opportunity to broker the agreement. Dr. Ero emphasized the importance of sustained efforts to drive change, warning that while success should be acknowledged, ongoing work is crucial for deals like this to hold.
“It's hard. It's brittle. Yes, there's a sense of hopelessness as well. But I think it's about those moments and they're very fleeting and far between … But the only way it will stick is if you keep the key guarantors at the table to continue with that pressure,” she said.
The future must remain front of mind
Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, OCHA, stated that building bridges between sectors was essential in the face of conflict.
“If we are going to rise to the challenge of this disrupted, disordered world that we're experiencing right now, then we do need these moments when people come together and try to fix problems together. And that's the space we're in right now,” he said.
“It's clear to me that the international institutions can't do this. Governments, nation states can't do this. Business can't do it. Civil society can't do it. So it's only by joining those dots that we're going to build the sorts of coalitions that can get out there and meet these challenges.”
Fletcher said that thinking of the future is what inspires him most, and that individuals facing the biggest challenges are desperate to see more international co-operation. “I really believe that is our biggest role on the planet is to be a good ancestor,” he explained.
“You know that great phrase about planting trees under which your grandchildren will say that you'll never sit under? We need to be doing a bit more of that at the moment. And that's what I hear on the frontlines of this humanitarian effort. I've been across Syria. I've been into Darfur. I've just come back from the front lines of the Russia-Ukraine war and people are desperate for that international solidarity. So we've got to get out there and start to deliver practical outcomes for them.”
Weforum