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Opportunities Amid Disorder
Article

Opportunities Amid Disorder

Europe and the World in 2018

ECFR, 2018

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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Overview
  • Background
  • Concrete Examples

Recommendation

Looking back at the year 2017, a report by the European Council on Foreign Relations, a pan-European think tank, concludes: “It could have been worse.” Yes, liberal internationalism prevailed against the odds, but will this trend hold going forward? According to the report, much hinges upon US foreign policy decisions, including whether the Trump administration chooses to escalate tensions with North Korea. While predictions are notoriously inaccurate, the report provides a valuable overview of the major events, leaders and trends that will influence international politics in the year to come.

Take-Aways

  • The International Monetary Fund expects the world economy to grow by 3.7% in 2018.
  • If US President Donald Trump stokes tensions with North Korea or Iran, pulls out of NAFTA or starts a trade war with China, it could disrupt global economic growth.
  • The North Korea crisis, conflicts in the Middle East, and disputes in sub-Saharan Africa and Ukraine all have the potential to evolve into all-out war or a humanitarian crisis.

About the Authors

The European Council on Foreign Relations is a pan-European think tank with offices in seven European capitals.