The sovereign debt crisis in Europe and the continuing turbulence in global financial
markets are reshaping the world’s economic and political order. Powers in Asia and
beyond have emerged from the 2007-2009 crisis stronger than before, claiming
a greater share of the world’s wealth and a more assertive voice in international
institutions. Newly prosperous population centres such as Brazil, India and China are
placing greater demands on our planet’s finite resources, raising issues of scarcity
and security of supply. There is a renewed clamour of voices warning that Europe risks
being left behind in this new world order.