Annual meeting of the Global Leadership Foundation

The Global Leadership Foundation brings together former heads of state and government who advise serving leaders discreetly. It holds its annual meeting in Berne, where it has its seat. It is its sixth meeting in Switzerland, the first in the capital. Alain Berset addresses its members.

He quotes Fletcher Knebel: “Statesmanship is the art of getting along with politicians.” Then he lists the tensions: protracted conflicts, disruptive technologies, climate, national withdrawal and distrust of multilateralism. His answer: international cooperation, the 2030 Agenda, education against radicalisation. And a warning on inequality: “The mainstream of society must see society as being fair – otherwise it will use its veto.”

Speeches on this site

• Allocution à l’assemblée annuelle de la Global Leadership Foundation (French-language page)

Sources

• War Prevention Initiative, report on the 2018 GLF annual meeting