GIGA Annual Report 2010

Abstract

Times are changing. Wealth and control are moving from the European Union to Brazil, China, India and other regional and global powers. Even though this transition will not put an end to the existing liberal order, the old order dominated by the West is definitely undergoing a shift. China, India, Brazil, Turkey, Mexico, South Africa and other countries are gaining influence in institutions like the G20, the WTO, the IMF and the World Bank in their attempts to exercise global leadership. It has been a turbulent year for the world, defined in part by the democratic movements in the Middle East, the ongoing problems in Afghanistan, the Ivorian civil war and the European economic and financial crisis. On the other side, India, China and many other developing countries saw high economic growth. This year, the world was made even more aware of global interdependence and new universal challenges. Many of these challenges affected the GIGA's work programme. Our research focused on some of the major changes, including the aforementioned rise of regional and global powers. We extended the results of our research to both the scientific community and decision-makers in Germany, broader Europe and many other parts of the world. We at the GIGA are deeply grateful for the ongoing financial support and encouragement of the Federal Foreign Office, the Ministry of Science and Research in Hamburg and the Leibniz Association; we are also thankful for the guidance of the GIGA’s Academic Advisory Board and Board of Trustees. We are very much obliged to State Councillor Reinert, State Councillor Frigge, Counsellor Helmut Kulitz and Professor Dr. Jürgen Rüland for their unfailing support. I would also like to personally thank the equal opportunity commissioner, the central staff members, the staff of the Information Centre and service departments and the academic staff. (author's abstract)