INTRODUCTION

The Fourth Group is hosting an ideation session for members of the community and guests to co-design a new framework for global cooperation. We want to reimagine a political institution which is fit for the digital age and capable of responding to the new challenges and opportunities presented by the fourth industrial revolution.

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AGENDA

Here's what to expect on the evening:

6.15-6.30pm: Arrivals

6.30-6.50pm: Welcome, introduction to the ideation session, and information about the global challenge prize / Split into 3 groups

6.50-7.50pm: Session 1

Group 1

What are the basic capacities that a new framework for global decision-making and action needs to have in order to be able to address global catastrophic threats effectively and adequately? According to the evaluation criteria for the Global Challenges Prize 2017: A New Shape competition, a framework for global governance must “have the necessary teeth to be able to apply its decisions.” What means are required for this? Is there need for a common global legal system? Is there need for power to enforce common decisions against the will of dissenting states? Might there be other ways to tackle the issues?

Group 2

In order for a model of global governance to be effective, and to last over time, it is important that it obtains a significant degree of legitimacy. That is, that it obtains a considerable amount of popular support in the world as a whole. Where, primarily, should an institutional structure for global governance seek such support? With national governments, business leaders, organisations in civil society, or private citizens directly?

Group 3

How could equal influence for all, regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion be guaranteed in the process of designing, agreeing on and implementing a new framework for global governance that is capable of tackling the great challenges facing humanity?

7.50-8pm: Break

8-9pm: Session 2

Group 1

A framework for global governance must be designed so that it can effectively and efficiently deal with today’s great challenges and threats to humanity. But it must also be flexible enough to be able to deal with yet unknown challenges. How can that be achieved? How can long-term commitment and protection against potential power abuse and expansion of mandate beyond what is in the interest of all be combined with the ability to change in the face of changing challenges

Group 2

What are the technological solutions to the challenges of Global Governance?

Group 3

What would a 15 year programme of change look like to implement a new global governance system? (e.g. set up a timeline and put on inputs, outcomes etc)

9pm: Wrap ups, findings, thank yous, next steps

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FAQs

What is The Fourth Group?

We are a global community of people in politics and technology. We come together to learn from each other and develop innovative solutions to improve politics. We convene, collaborate, and create. We were set up to address the challenges and opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution. Since we established in 2016 and powered entirely by volunteers, we have created an online community of over 1,500 people and established hubs around the world in London, Paris, Bogota, Berlin, Bucharest, and Bratislava. Our people are passionate and solution driven and they meet to develop new technologies, philosophies, and visions for a new politics in the digital age. We've organised keynote speeches, roundtables, and dinners to bring the community together. We've also run hackathons where teams have created video-truth-feeds, apps to inform the electorate, and chatbots. We're currently developing the School of Politics, an online education platform to teach citizens the fundamentals of political participation, and the world's first Politician AI. Politically, we aren’t left or right - we are forward; toward a better future for mankind.

What is the Global Challenges Prize?

The Global Challenges Prize will be given to organisations who can reimagine and define a new framework for global cooperation that can address current and future world problems.

Why are we seeking answers to these questions?

The Fourth Group community brings together a unique group of leaders working across the fields of politics, technology, academia and global governance as well as those involved in implementing solutions to some of the worlds greatest challenges both from NGO’s and the private sector. By bringing these people together to explore common ground, cross-pollinate ideas and enhance the set of available expertise we believe we can develop ideas that could change the world. We are developing a 10,000 word response to the Global Challenges Foundation essay prize and this ideation session is a key part of developing ideas that we could include in the bid.

Amidst political turmoil around the world, changes in the power balance between East and West, and the rise of nationalism; the issues of war, famine, climate change and poverty continue to escalate. The existing global governance structures were established after the Second World War, at a time when the world was very different. There is a need for a new type of institution in this technological age capable of implementing new solutions and ideas to address these challenges.

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For more information, check out our website: http://thefourthgroup.org/challenge/.

Become a supporter: thefourthgroup.org/support-us/

You can also email join@fourth.group.