In an era of people power, what can a gathering such as G20 do?
Mark Logan says our focus on singular leaders who can change the world is passé, as, increasingly, it is the middle class everywhere that’s shaking up our lives
I recall a senior official of an average-sized Chinese city disparagingly noting that mayors in the UK wield little power, and even less of a budget. Despite this, angry netizens increasingly demand more from elected representatives. All this in an “end of power” epoch, when, as commentator Moises Naim claims, “being in charge isn’t what it used to be”.
History has tended to focus on leaders. Arguably, leadership is now less about the movers and shakers at the top. Increasingly, it is the middle class.
Betrayal of masses sure to spell failure for those in power
Irrespective of the reality that one person – whether it be Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin or Xi Jinping ( 習 近平 ) – cannot alone extinguish terrorism, end climate change or enhance global trade, many still largely focus on these figures, either in the hope that they’ll wave their magic wand or as a convenient punchbag for the jabs of public dissatisfaction.
Rachman also mentions the success of the G20 in 2008/09 when then British prime minister Gordon Brown led the elite club to “save the world” from the financial crisis. Does this mean next month’s G20 in the Eastern capital city of Hangzhou ( 杭州 ) is best placed to solve all the world’s ills?
Danny Quah, formerly of the London School of Economics, has beaten the drum for the notion that the “centre of gravity is moving to the East” longer and louder than most. The implication is that as economic clout shifts eastwards, political decision-making will gradually follow.
One problem may be that nations are motivated not by high ideals of multilateral collaboration, but selfish national interests. Talk is cheap but events propel people, governments and nations into action.
