A Group’s Architecture in Flux: The G8 and the Heiligendamm Process

The G8 summit in Heiligendamm/Germany in June 2007 established a topic-centred dialogue with China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico. The so-called “Heiligendamm Process” was an attempt by the G8 member to respond to the Group’s perceived lack of representativeness and effectiveness, while avoiding a change in the G8’s central proceedings through formal enlargement. The Process was reviewed at the 2009 summit in L’Aquila/Italy, and it was agreed to continue the dialogue until mid- 2011. In the context of the current debate on how global economic institutions and fora adapt to systemic change, the analysis touches on important issues of global governance that go beyond the G8’s new initiative. With the establishment of a regular G20 at leaders’ level in the wake of the financial crisis, the G8 finds itself at a crucial juncture, its future being more uncertain than ever