Аннотация:Working on long-term forecasts have been an important area of the Institute's competitive advantage, being engaged in such forecasts since the mid-1970s. The first publication - "The World at the Turn of the Millennium" was published in 2001 and included a forecast until 2015. Comparing the estimates of that time with today's statistics, one can see that the forecast was very close to the reality, especially in terms of the growth rates of world GDP in the period of 2011-2014 and the growth rate of the Russian economy at that period.In 2011, "Strategic Global Outlook: 2030" was published.
The new study - "World 2035. Global Outlook" is the third forecast covering key development trends in the fields of economy, ideology, politics, innovation, social sphere and international security. Publication of the book in early April 2017 shortly preceded the Meeting of G20 Leaders in Hamburg, on July 7-9, 2017. There is no surprise that, hopefully, well informed "sherpas", while preparing for the Summit, made proper use of the widely available forecast materials.
The Leaders of the G20, as well as the representatives of eight Permanent Guest countries, and the heads of the most influential international organizations met to address major global economic and political challenges and to contribute to prosperity and well-being of the entire population of our planet. The final document of the Summit declares that "mastering the challenges of our age and shaping an interconnected world is the common goal of the G20." The G20 revealed its strength during the global economic and financial crisis in 2008 – 09, and played a crucial role in stabilizing economies and financial markets. Strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth – remains the highest priority of G20.
The IMEMO forecast methodology firmly relies on thorough consideration of comprehensive links between such developments of different nature as economic, financial, demographic and social trends, achievements in science and technological change, ideological activities, changes in demography, social psychology and cultural processes. This approach gave the authors an opportunity to focus attention on sustainable long-term trends of the world economy and global political order, as well as on entities, structures, institutions and key actors of the international system.[2]
The report should acknowledge that one of the problems Russia is going to have in the near future as far as 'influencing a global order transformation' is how that transformation is presently seen by the United States as being somewhat AGAINST American national interests. We need places like IMEMO, the scholars and specialists associated with it, working to bring to greater public media light how much the American reluctance and stubbornness to engage Russia in a non-suspicious light, to rid itself of what I call the 'Cold War residue,' is essential for the future of Russia's diplomatic strength and significance on the global stage.
Keep in mind this is not to say Russian power is only relevant through American cooperation. Rather, this is about how American obstinacy and a failure on the part of the US to accept a proper place at the table for Russia will have a marked negative impact on its true potential and capability. For example, the presence of sanctions and the refusal of America to negotiate these or resolve them poisons the working environment without a doubt. The report does not somberly and objectively bring this reality up and I think it should. The G20 needs to be pressed to understand that the system of sanctions under questionable decision-making needs to be addressed or the positive results they hope to bring about in the world community will be stunted.
We need multiple, courageous, directed efforts from all sides to defeat the repressive intellectual orthodoxy currently plaguing Russian-American relations and, therefore, hindering Russia’s relations with many other states. This does not mean everyone will get along perfectly and all sides will always agree. But it does mean relations will finally take on a less shrill, less melodramatic timbre and that will only be good for all concerned.
http://moderndiplomacy.eu/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=2831:russia-and-global-forecasting-getting-past-melodrama-diplomacy&Itemid=124
