Power shifts in a changing world order

The first decade of the 21st century marked the beginning of a new era. Power shifts are occurring worldwide. New economic powers arise in Asia and South America and new non-state actors are increasingly important. On a global stage we are confronted with new crises: climate change, energy scarcity, terrorism and security risks, poverty and exclusion, budgetary deficits. The global developments are a challenge for the European Union and the Netherlands. The agenda of the Dutch Senate is characterized by a strong European and international orientation. As a ‘chambre de réflexion’ the Senate regularly discusses long term developments and visions to the future. In this tradition it took the initiative to organise an international conference on the matter of power shifts in a changing world order. The initiative resulted in a unique cooperation between four players in the Dutch arena of politics, policy and science. The Dutch Senate, the Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR), the Advisory Council on International Affairs (AIV) and the Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael combined their different backgrounds and areas of special interest to guarantee an interdisciplinary approach to the subject of power shifts. The aim of this conference was to get a clearer picture of the consequences of the shifts of power taking place in the world. Points of view of the US and China have been discussed, as well as current issues such as global economic imbalances and scarcity of resources. We look back at a successful conference with a lively debate on the transformations in a globalising world and the way Europe and the Netherlands can best position themselves in this changing global arena