New Release
Global Order
Global politics finds itself at the turn of an era, characterized by a changing global distribution of power and the weakening of international institutions. The Global Order Program aims at fostering debates about the international system, global governance mechanisms, and systemic competition.
About the Global Order Program
To reflect the complex international security landscape, all activities of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) are guided by five program areas: Defense, Global Order, Human Security, Sustainability, and Technology. These programs address both conventional issues as well as emerging security concerns and offer the intellectual backbone to all our events and publications. For all five program areas, the MSC is working with renowned partners from around the world.
Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine marks a turning point in world politics, illustrating the increasing attempts by autocratic revisionists to subvert the rules-based international order. Besides undermining international law and human rights, the return to power politics defies multilateral cooperation, which is urgently needed to tackle global challenges such as climate change and health emergencies.
Aware that they are entering a critical decade in the contest for the future international order, the transatlantic allies and liberal democracies more broadly have found a new sense of unity and purpose. Yet, internal threats to liberal-democratic norms persist. The diffidence of many states around the globe in response to Russia’s war highlights the need to develop a positive and inclusive common vision for global governance and the international order.
With its Global Order Program, the MSC provides a platform for advancing the debate on how to further deepen and sustain cooperation between the transatlantic allies and its liberal-democratic partners, build global alliances of countries committed to international law, find avenues for multilateralism, and reform and revitalize global governance mechanisms for the common good. In addition to the annual flagship conference in Munich, formats like the Munich Leaders Meetings and Strategy Retreats facilitate exchanges between decision-makers and experts at the highest level.
Publications
Topics from the Global Order Program are regularly covered in the annual Munich Security Report (MSR). Additionally, the MSC regularly publishes Munich Security Briefs and MSR Special Editions on related issues.
Summits, Roundtables, and other Activities
Global order issues naturally play an important role at all MSC activities. During the annual flagship conference in Munich, these topics have regularly taken center stage at panel discussions as well as in a growing number of side events.
In addition, the MSC organizes numerous events as part of the Global Order Program, which vary in scope and size.
MSC Summits assemble an audience of up to 100 high-profile representatives from government, academia, the military, the private sector and civil society for 24 to 48 hours of open and frank debates with a particular thematic focus. MSC Summits are held on-the-record or under Chatham House rule.
MSC Roundtables bring together an intimate group of up to 35 participants for an interactive debate on a specific security policy challenge. Roundtables are held under Chatham House rule or off-the-record and take place throughout the year, frequently alongside other MSC events, such as the Munich Leaders Meetings and the Munich Security Conference.
MSC Conversations are small, confidential meetings featuring a selected high-level speaker and a group of up to 40 participants, including senior experts, thinkers, and decision-makers. MSC Conversations are typically held under Chatham House rule, but selected events can be open to the public.
Past Events
Munich Strategy Retreat in Bellagio (2024)
At the Munich Strategy Retreat in Bellagio, which followed the G7 summit in Apulia, the Munich Security Conference brought together a select group of experts to develop recommendations on the latest security policy challenges.
Against the backdrop of what many refer to as the transition to a multipolar world, the Munich Strategy Retreat Bellagio addressed the different understandings, hopes, fears and visions that countries inside and outside the transatlantic community associate with a transformation to a multipolar order. The number of participants at Munich Strategy Retreats is limited to around 50 personalities who can exchange ideas "off the record".
