Blockchain is not a technological illusion. It constitutes an authentic innovation in the field of distributed systems, introducing robust mechanisms for consensus, traceability and auditability without a single central authority. To reduce blockchain to a mere trend would therefore be an analytical error. However, the rapid expansion of this technology into the fields of digital […]
Introduction The awarding of COP28 to the Emirates by the UNFCCC Secretariat allowed a whole country, perhaps a whole region, to be greenwashed. As illustrated by this quote from an article published in The Nation in December 2023, there is a common misconception that Gulf countries engage in greenwashing. However, the aim of this note […]
This contribution is the first in a series of analyses by Thomas Deconstanza, exploring China’s developing-country status, its historical roots, and its geopolitical implications. The subsequent analyses will examine the compatibility of this status with current economic realities. The series will conclude with forward-looking reflections on the future of world trade in a rapidly changing […]
Foreword The purpose of this article is to question the ability of entrepreneurial vision to drive social change, particularly through the innovation and agility it can demonstrate. By comparing the impacts of entrepreneurial vision with traditional governmental or philanthropic approaches, the author highlights the strengths of social innovation, nourished by the constraints of reality and […]
Context Following parts 1 and 2 of our consideration of BRICS+ and PIIGS, this third part analyses the influence of the rise of BRICS+1 and PIIGS2 on the world order. In it, we will discuss reform proposals for the United Nations (UN) Security Council, the necessary evolution of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the […]
To shed light on the dynamics that are currently redefining the planet’s geopolitical landscape, this tripartite study undertakes to analyse the operation of the BRICS+ and PIIGS groups of countries, their heterogenous make-up and their importance in international relations, while comparing them to devoted multilateral structures. Following an initial consideration of BRICS+, this second part will be dedicated to PIIGS. After recalling the origins of the group, it will explore the economic and political challenges faced by these countries, focusing in particular on the issues linked to the stability and operation of the EU. We will illustrate our point using some of the measures obtained recently by this group from the Institution (for example, the post-COVID European recovery policy).
To shed light on the dynamics that are currently redefining the planet’s geopolitical landscape, this tripartite study undertakes to analyse the operation of the BRICS+ and PIIGS groups of countries, their heterogenous make-up and their importance in international relations, while comparing them to devoted multilateral structures. In this first part, we will look at the origins of BRICS and their evolution to BRICS+, before discussing their goals for 2024. The new dimension of this partnership, in economic, demographic and military terms, will thus be highlighted, in particular thanks to a discussion of the recent measures aiming to strengthen its global influence.
History shows that there exists an intricate link between influence, power and language. Today, the number of French speakers worldwide is growing: from 321 million in 2022, the most optimistic forecasts estimate that this figure will reach 600 million by 2050. Nevertheless, the French-speaking world (Francophonie) has recently suffered a series of setbacks on the international stage, such as the sudden end to the teaching of French programmes in Algerian public schools. It is therefore important to ask whether, in the future, in areas as varied as politics, the economy, culture, education and sport, Francophonie will continue to be a vector of influence, especially for France, or whether it now calls for a fresh impetus.
‘Deep state’ or fantasy? Described as a ‘tentacular phenomenon’ by the Sénat investigation committee, the influence of private consultancies on the elaboration of public policy led France's upper house to adopt a bill aimed at increasing supervision over the Government's use of such firms. Fifteen months then passed before the bill was presented to the National Assembly, where the text was largely reworked. The amended version of the bill was sent back to the Sénat for a second reading, raising fears that the discussions will stall and signalling a potential lack of political will to do without consultants in the public sector. Concomitantly, the French government has announced the creation of an internal public consulting agency. Will this be enough to remedy the problems identified by the investigation committee and prevent further risks of abuse highlighted by journalists and essayists?
In this note, Claude Revel, expert in economic intelligence, offers a complete analysis of what influence is, how it is exercised, its actors and forms of intervention. She warns of its excesses and proposes strategies for counter-influence, all supported by concrete examples: sustainable development, legal systems, Chinese standards, etc.
