Carsten Giersch

WEF’s Global Risks 2011: New Risk Clusters in Focus

In the lead-up to its annual meeting at Davos, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum (WEF) issued the report Global Risks 2011. The report is set in the context of the WEF’s new platform, the Risk Response Network. The organization’s proclaimed objective to translate analysis into the development of practical solutions for the planet’s future, gives…

The Corrosion of Democracy

What has happened to the idea and practice of democracy? What many vigilant observers of countries and political systems might have concluded from their daily analysis of political events and processes, has now been confirmed as a global pattern. Democratization has not only come to a halt but has been in decline across the world…

The Shift in Climate Policy

The UN Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico, which was concluded on 10 December 2010, ended on a positive note. All parties, including industrialized and developing countries, agreed on the general objective of low-emissions policies in order to keep global temperature rise below two degree Celsius. Mitigation of global warming remains an important risk strategy.…

Business and Investment Regulations Worldwide

In order to promote the economic and social development of countries, improving their business environment for private entrepreneurs is key. The World Bank’s eight annual Doing Business report, which tracks relevant regulations in 183 economies, has become influential since governments are increasingly concerned about their rank and reputation in the global commercial arena. Given this…

The Four Pillars of Counter-Terrorism

By military means alone terrorism cannot be defeated. This rule, from which few exemptions exist on the national level, is fully evident in view of today’s prominent transnational terrorism spread by Islamist extremists. Therefore, counter-terrorism must pursue a comprehensive strategy that also includes psychological means in response to the mechanisms of fear triggered by indiscriminate…

Systemic Risks – A New Paradigm for Global Risk Research

This article explores the developing concept of global risks and highlights how the study and management of systemic risk has become a major challenge to multinational business. Lloyd’s 360 Risk Insight research platform serves as an example. Special reference is given to the recent report Globalisation and Risks for Business – Implications of an increasingly…