Rise of the Rest: Who should lead in a multipolar world?

About the event

Global power, once wielded largely by the West, is in flux. Economically, strategic alliances like BRICS are bolstering the influence of non-Western countries, and the rise of pop culture like Bollywood and Nollywood is giving more soft power to countries in the global south. With global dynamics shifting toward an uncertain future, Doha Debates, in partnership with Doha Forum, held a town hall-style event about who should lead in this new multilateral world on December 9, 2023, at Qatar National Library.

Many factors have fragmented the geopolitical landscape, including multi- and minilateral regional partnerships and powerful tech companies like Meta and X (formerly Twitter). Rise of the Rest: Who should lead in a multipolar world? examined how the shifting global powers will settle over the next decade: with traditional Western superpowers, emerging middle powers or new forms of leadership entirely.

Journalist Femi Oke moderated the conversation, and was joined by guests Jon B. Alterman, Sawsan Chebli and Wadah Khanfar.