Global institutions failing to keep pace with change: Expert

The world’s system of governance is failing to keep pace with rapid technological change, intensifying geopolitical rivalry and shared global crises, Nickolay Mladenov, director-general of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, has cautioned.

- Haneen Dajani

Speaking at Abu Dhabi’s Hili Forum, Mladenov told Khaleej Times that institutions built in the aftermath of the World War Il — once designed to prevent conflict and regulate trade — no longer reflect the realities of the modern era. “The world’s operating system does not reflect the realities of today,” he said, warning that outdated frameworks are leaving nations vulnerable to stagnation.

Mladenoy painted a picture of a fractured global landscape. “Great powers jostle, middle powers assert and non-state actors disrupt,” he said.

“Globalisation is fractured; supply chains are being weaponised, critical minerals securitised. Trade, sadly, no longer flows in neutral waters — it’s channelled through the lenses of rivalry and resilience.”