IV CAF-LSE Conference will address the crisis of globalization and its impact in the Global South

In a year marked by surprising changes such as the US presidential election and the UK's decision to exit the European Union, Latin American and European academics, experts and students will hold a debate regarding the implications of the crisis of globalization and its impact on the Global South during the IV Annual CAF-LSE Conference, which will take place in London on January 13.

visit the event's site

The conference forms part of the collaboration program carried out by CAF -Development Bank of Latin America- and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), with the objective of promoting the exchange of knowledge and experience on the Global South, and will see the participation of international experts, academics, officials in charge of public policy and opinion leaders.

"This fourth CAF-LSE conference is a testimony to our mission not only as a development bank but also as promoters of knowledge of our region and its projection into the world," said Enrique Garcia, Executive President of CAF -Development Bank of Latin America-. "The issue that brings us together this time-globalization in crisis-is of particular importance in order to understand the challenges we currently face."

What will the post-Brexit world be like? What impact will this process have in Latin America? What role does China play in globalization, and in Latin America in particular? What can be expected of new US president Donald Trump? These are some of the issues that will be analyzed.

The conference's inaugural speech will be given by the International Monetary Fund's former managing director and former president of the Bank of France, Michel Camdessus, who will share his perspective regarding "The World in 2050."

President Garcia will speak with Nikolay Kosov, president of the International Investment Bank (IIB), Enrique Iglesias, former president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and former Ibero-American Secretary General Alejandro Foxley, former finance minister of Chile and current president of the Corporación de Estudios para Latinoamérica (CIEPLAN) regarding the role of development banks at a time in which the increasing weight of emerging markets has become indisputable and the need of having a global governance system that responds to this new reality becomes evident.

Other academics will analyze, from different perspectives, the origin and nature of the crisis of globalization. Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, CEO of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), shall refer to the "Post-Liberal World," while professor Yu Zheng, from Fudan University in Shanghai, will shed light on China's impact in the globalization process. Finally, David Patrick Houghton, professor at the US Naval War College, will address "The Trumpian threat to the global order."

Another highlighted session of the conference will center on the possible consequences of the Brexit and the European crisis in the Global South. Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, will explore "The UK's foreign policy in the post-Brexit world," and Enrico Letta, former prime minister of Italy and current dean at Sciences Po's School of International Affairs (PSIA), will complete the European perspective.

 On his part, Michelle Campbell, senior economist at Dun & Bradstreet, will talk about the Brexit's impact in Latin America, while Rahul Roy-Chaudhury from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) will focus on the consequences for Indian and south Asia.

 One of the reflections of this new global reality is the diversification of alliances in pursuit of shared interests. In this sense, one panel at the conference will be dedicated to addressing, from different perspectives, the relationship between China and Latin America, perhaps the clearest example of the growing South-South rapprochement. The debate, moderated by former Defense and Trade Minister of Colombia, Marta Lucia Ramirez, will see the participation of renown academics and specialists such as Chris Hughes (LSE), Susana Moreira (World Bank), Taotao Chen (Tsinghua University) and Felix Peña (ICBC Foundation).

 The conference will close with a special session dedicated to analyzing the perspectives on "Cuba in the 21 ^st Century," after the recommencement of relations with the US and the death of Fidel Castro. Moderated by Germán Ríos, Corporate Director of Strategic Affairs, CAF -Development Bank of Latin America-, the conference will see the participation of Yamile Berra Cires, vice-president of the Cuban Central Bank, Vilma Hidalgo, vice-rector of the University of La Habana, Juan Triana, professor at said university, Mario Bergara, President Central Bank of Uruguay, and German Rios, Corporate Director of CAF Strategic Affairs.

Entry to the conference is open and free, but prior registration is required on the website, from which audiences can follow the conference live by streaming.