The Global Cooperation Barometer 2025 reveals a complex landscape of international collaboration. Released by the World Economic Forum in partnership with McKinsey & Company, the Barometer assesses global cooperation using 41 indicators. It marks recent stagnation in cooperation, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions. Despite these challenges, there are positive developments in climate finance, trade, and innovation.
Current State of Global Cooperation
The Barometer indicates that overall global cooperation has stagnated after a decade of positive trends. The decline is particularly noted in the peace and security pillar. Geopolitical tensions have increased, leading to conflicts in regions like the Middle East and Ukraine. Humanitarian crises have also surged, complicating the global cooperation landscape.
Five Pillars of Cooperation
The Barometer is structured around five key pillars – 1. Trade and capital flows 2. Innovation and technology 3. Climate and natural capital 4. Health and wellness 5. Peace and security While peace and security have deteriorated, the other pillars have shown resilience. This indicates potential areas for future international collaboration.
Impact of Technology on Cooperation
Technological advancements have reshaped the cooperation landscape. The digitisation of the global economy has accelerated innovation and the adoption of new technologies. However, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence pose risks, potentially leading to a new form of geopolitical competition. Leaders must adopt cooperative strategies to harness technology’s benefits while mitigating risks.
Climate Cooperation Developments
There has been notable progress in climate cooperation. Increased financing and trade in low-carbon technologies, such as solar and electric vehicles, have been observed. However, urgent action is required to meet net-zero targets as global emissions continue to rise. Leaders must collaborate to scale up technologies and secure the necessary financing for climate goals by 2030.
Health Cooperation Trends
Post-pandemic health outcomes have shown improvement in some areas, such as life expectancy. However, cooperation in pharmaceutical research and trade in health goods has stalled. Rising health risks and ageing populations necessitate enhanced global cooperation to strengthen public health systems.
Trade and Economic Flows
Global trade dynamics have been mixed. While goods trade declined by 5%, driven by slower growth in major economies, services and capital flows have remained resilient. Foreign direct investment has surged, particularly in strategic sectors like semiconductors and green energy. Labour migration and remittances have also rebounded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
Future Directions for Cooperation
The Barometer suggests that cooperation remains essential to address pressing global challenges. Despite geopolitical instability, collaborative efforts in areas like vaccine distribution and renewable energy development offer models for future international partnerships. Leaders must find new mechanisms for cooperation to encourage innovation, health, and resilience in a fragmented world.
Questions for UPSC:
- Examine the impact of geopolitical tensions on global trade and cooperation.
- Discuss in the light of current events, the role of technology in shaping international relations.
- Critically discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change for global cooperation.
- Analyse the trends in global health cooperation post-pandemic and their implications for future policies.
Answer Hints:
1. Examine the impact of geopolitical tensions on global trade and cooperation.
- Geopolitical tensions have led to a decline in the peace and security pillar of the Global Cooperation Barometer.
- Increased conflicts in regions like the Middle East and Ukraine have disrupted trade routes and partnerships.
- Humanitarian crises have surged, complicating collaboration efforts among nations.
- Mixed outcomes in trade dynamics, with a 5% decline in goods trade but resilience in services and capital flows.
- Fragmentation of trade between Western and Eastern-aligned blocs has further strained international cooperation.
2. Discuss in the light of current events, the role of technology in shaping international relations.
- The digitization of the global economy has accelerated innovation and global collaboration in various sectors.
- Emerging technologies, particularly AI, pose risks of geopolitical competition and potential arms races.
- Cooperative leadership is essential to harness technology’s benefits while addressing associated risks.
- Technological advancements have facilitated vaccine distribution and renewable energy development, showcasing positive collaboration.
- International strategies must adapt to the rapid technological changes to maintain effective cooperation.
3. Critically discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change for global cooperation.
- Climate change presents urgent challenges, necessitating immediate action to meet net-zero targets.
- Increased financing and trade in low-carbon technologies indicate opportunities for enhanced collaboration.
- The interdependence of climate action and technological governance marks the need for cooperative strategies.
- Global emissions continue to rise, underscoring the necessity for scaled-up technologies and financing.
- Collaboration on climate goals can serve as a model for addressing other pressing global issues.
4. Analyse the trends in global health cooperation post-pandemic and their implications for future policies.
- Post-pandemic health outcomes show improvement in life expectancy but overall progress is slowing compared to pre-2020.
- Cooperation in pharmaceutical R&D and trade in health goods has stalled, denoting a gap in global health collaboration.
- Rising health risks and aging populations necessitate a renewed focus on strengthening public health systems.
- Metrics like child and maternal mortality remain strong, indicating areas of success in health cooperation.
- Future policies should prioritize investment in global health cooperation to address emerging health challenges effectively.
