Davos 2023: What you need to know about geopolitics

This winter will mark one year since Russia invaded Ukraine in a wanton act of aggression.

The war, which has killed at least tens of thousands and has forced nearly 8 million refugees to flee across Europe, has exacerbated crises worldwide. This includes causing energy prices to soar, disrupting supply chains, rattling financial markets and intensifying the climate crisis, among other repercussions.

The geopolitical consequences have been manifold — and have significantly impact the most vulnerable. Somalia, for example, is on the brink of famine due to drought and the global food crisis. The country, which relies on Russia and Ukraine for 90% of its wheat supply, now tops the International Rescue Committee's crises watchlist for the first time ever.

As the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2023 notes, "The first years of this decade have heralded a particularly disruptive period in human history."

"The return to a 'new normal' following the COVID-19 pandemic was quickly disrupted by the outbreak of war in Ukraine, ushering in a fresh series of crises in food and energy – triggering problems that decades of progress had sought to solve," the report adds.

The ties that bind the world economy together have frayed in recent years. Has globalization reached the end of the line or is a resurgence on the cards?

From the use of sanctions to technology supply shocks, how can business leaders adapt to a world of increased geopolitical fractures?

As democracy comes under increasing pressure, what can leaders do today to strengthen democratic systems?

Nearly one year since the start of the war, Ukraine has surpassed all expectations in its ability to defend itself against Russia. What is the outlook for the conflict and horizons for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction?

From energy to food to humanitarian relief, where are the concrete opportunities for progress on urgent global challenges despite the strong tides of geopolitical and geo-economic fragmentation?

What are the policy pathways to take and the points of vulnerability to address in Europe in the coming year as it grapples with the multidimensional effects of the war in Ukraine?

While the conflict in Ukraine has dominated headlines since February, a number of other crises and worrying trends are affecting millions of people around the world and deserve international attention and action. Join International Rescue Committee President David Miliband for a discussion of how widening inequality gaps, debt decay and impending famine will impact economies and societies in 2023 and what actions the international community must take to prevent the worst possible outcomes.

Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Klaus Schwab, and the Forum's President, Børge Brende, join António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations.

The war in Ukraine has exacerbated a fragile geopolitical and security landscape. Bold leadership is required not only to restore peace and security in Europe but also for the world. In a time of grave challenges, how can leaders collaborate and cooperate to defend our collective security?

With current geopolitics in flux, how can key powers stem the slide to volatility and strike a new bargain for security dialogue and coordination?

Nearly 50 heads of state and government from across the globe gathered with business and society leaders at the Forum's Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos, Switzerland, under the theme of “Cooperation in a Fragmented World”. The programme included special addresses from leaders such as Prime Minister Sanna Marin of Finland, President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The summit was held as the need for cooperation rose significantly. As the Global Risks Report 2023 explains, a "polycrisis" dominated by the cost of the living crisis, the climate crisis and political instability is threatening to reverse hard-fought gains in development and growth.

“We see the manifold political, economic and social forces creating increased fragmentation on a global and national level," said Klaus Schwab, the Forum's Founder and Executive Chairman. "To address the root causes of this erosion of trust, we need to reinforce cooperation between the government and business sectors, creating the conditions for a strong and durable recovery."

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Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine, calls for unity at Davos 2023

The 20 humanitarian crises the world cannot ignore in 2023 — and what to do about them

In a time of geopolitical and economic challenges, business leaders explain how to adapt

Global cooperation has mended a divided world before - it can do the same for a fragmented one

Croatia joins Europe's Schengen Area: What is it and how does it work?

Corporate geopolitics: How boards navigate a complex and volatile world

The power couple: Why solar and storage are key to reducing geopolitical risk and securing access to energy

What are foreign currency reserves and can they help combat the global economic crisis?

The Global Risks Report 2023 was published on 11 January, just days before Davos convened world leaders to discuss how to navigate the "polycrisis". You can catch up with the press conference here or read this blog on how organization's should respond.

Experts from across the Forum responded to the report shared insights into how technology, circular economy innovation, resources and energy, climate adaptation and mitigation, cybersecurity and the health sector could shift paradigms to shore up defences and help turn things around for growth and resilience in 2023.