'Think Global' - confronting world challenges from climate change to humanitarian intervention

'Think Global: connecting scholars to face the world's challenges' was the theme of the Global Scholars Symposium hosted at Rhodes House on 6-7 May, bringing together around 150 overseas postgraduate students in lively discussion with thought leaders on major global problems.

The Symposium, organised by a committee led by Rhodes Scholars, focused on inter-disciplinary approaches to solving major challenges - from identifying the needs of medical science, to reframing climate change policy, to managing humanitarian intervention.

Mr Dominic Barton (British Columbia & Brasenose 1984), global managing director of McKinsey, set the context by discussing 'five forces re-shaping the global economy'. Professor Joseph Nye (New Jersey & Exeter 1958), former Dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, explored the changing nature and reality of power in the 21st century. They discussed such factors as the rise of Asia, the rapid pace and impact of technological change, challenges of environmental sustainability, and the importance of 'soft power' as well as 'hard power' in international affairs.

In an age of global problems, the need for global governance and the problems of effective local delivery were highlighted. The Rt. Hon. Paul Martin, former Prime Minister of Canada, spoke of his experiences working to help shift the G20 from crisis responder to global steering committee, and proposed global initiatives to prevent another global banking crisis. Dr Mo Ibrahim, the pioneering African entrepreneur and philanthropist, advocated transparency and good governance across Africa. He also stressed that young people are the ‘vanguard of change', and that it is up to organisations ‘looking after future leaders … like the Rhodes Trust’ to inspire and motivate change.

The role and representation of some existing global governance organisations was also hotly debated, with Professor Jennifer Welsh (Prairies & St Anne’s 1987) facilitating a lively small group discussion between Scholars on the legitimacy of the UN Security Council. Sir John Holmes, director of the Ditchley Foundation, explored the question of when humanitarian intervention can be justified, and helped Scholars reflect on, for example, the current intervention in Libya.

In debating the issue of climate change, Professor Diana Mangalagiu advocated the need to reframe climate policy and shift the prevailing mindset from costs to solutions. Professor Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, urged the importance of breaking down barriers, such as those between NGOs and corporations, to find solutions to environmental issues. He cited the World Wildlife Fund as an example of innovative thinking, through its work with oil companies to limit damage from resource exploration and exploitation.

Dr John Hardman, the president of the Carter Center, challenged the Scholars to ask tough questions and not be constrained by fear of failure.  He cited the work of the Carter Center in almost eliminating neglected diseases like guinea worm and river blindness, illustrating the importance of local project ownership and highlighting the importance of local as well as global change.

Dr David Heymann, Head of the Centre on Global Health Security at Chatham House, and Professor Sir John Bell (Alberta & Magdalen 1975), Regius Professor of Medicine in Oxford, addressed the theme of healthcare, identifying a research agenda for medical science over the next 25 years, incorporating the crucial role of environmental factors in disease, and challenging the complex regulatory structures in healthcare which aren’t designed for developing countries.

The need for outstanding leadership to meet global challenges was repeatedly stressed at a ‘time of extraordinary change’.  Mr Dominic Barton said that 'we have a shortage of leadership … so your getting together, doing what you do very well, is going to help us all'.

The Warden of Rhodes House, Dr Donald Markwell, urged delegates to focus on how to turn their ideas into action, both now and throughout their careers.  Please click here for his speech.

A number of Rhodes Trustees identified major global challenges in a series of short videos. 

For full details about the Global Scholars Symposium, please visit the GSS website here.  As well as strong support from Rhodes House and from the Gates and Clarendon scholarships, the conference was generously underwritten by the McCall MacBain Foundation.

To access a photo gallery of images taken during the event, please click below.