FROM WEF TO WAR TO POLLS AND POLITICS, AN INTERESTING YEAR FOR THE WORLD

"HISTORY HAS TAUGHT US MANY LESSONS AND SELF-PRESERVATION IS AN ADEQUATE MOTIVATION FOR NATIONS TO ACT IN SELFINTEREST. THE ONLY WAY FIGHTING BETWEEN NEIGHBORS CAN COME TO AN END IS IF THE TWO (WITH THE HELP OF AFFECTED AND INTERESTED NEIGHBORS) SIT DOWN TO TALK.""

- Rakesh Wahi

Feedback from the Davos meetings of the World Economic Forum (WEF) has always been useful. Historically, the discussions with world leaders, both political and corporate, provide insight into what is expected in the year ahead. The post-event mood after the meetings was generally vibrant but 2024 was a departure from the past. Is it because WEF is losing its luster or because world leaders did not want to face the tough questions that were expected at Davos? Geopolitically, it was a disaster, as several world leaders were missing from the January 2024 WEF meetings; France's Emmanuel Macron was the only leader from the G7 countries. Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Rishi Sunak and many other leaders were conspicuous by their absence. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was present for a special address. The Russians were missing and so were their oligarch parties that are part of the pomp and show during Davos.

"HISTORY HAS TAUGHT US MANY LESSONS AND SELF-PRESERVATION IS AN ADEQUATE MOTIVATION FOR NATIONS TO ACT IN SELFINTEREST. THE ONLY WAY FIGHTING BETWEEN NEIGHBORS CAN COME TO AN END IS IF THE TWO (WITH THE HELP OF AFFECTED AND INTERESTED NEIGHBORS) SIT DOWN TO TALK."

Africa has been gaining in prominence at the WEF meetings and delegations from South Africa, Rwanda, Ghana and a few other countries continue to be torchbearers for the continent. Some interesting debates on technology, AI and the challenges of the future were thought-provoking this year but to a large part, there was nothing to write home about.