G20 Engagement Groups Ask for Open and Inclusive Societies

Active engagement of civil society actors turned out to be a prerequisite for many current agreements, not least the Paris Climate Convention. Further on it is crucial that gains from globalization are distributed widely and fairly through society. The advancement of China and India in recent years – and especially in the considerable reduction of poverty – is explicitly acknowledged. Professor Dirk Messner, Co-chair of Think20 and Co-director of the Centre, in a recent interview with German Magazine 'Weltsichten' complains that more and more leaders betake themselves in classical power politics strongly reminiscent of a 19th century mindset whereas 'we live in the 21 century'. Larry Crump, a Senior Fellow of the Centre, in a news blog for T20Germany examines the role of the Foreign Office in the G20 process and instigates the creation of a Special G20 Representative courting non-member countries, based on a model successfully implemented during the Australian Presidency. 

G20 Engagement Groups are dialogue forums with business (Business20), civil society organizations (Civil20), trade unions (Labour20), the scientific and research community (Science20), think tanks (Think20), women (Women20), and youth (Youth20).

G20 Engagement Groups: Statement for Open and Inclusive Societies, February 2017
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'Populistische Staatschefs passen nicht ins 21. Jahrhundert' [German]
Interview with Dirk Messner, in: Welt-Sichten, 14.2.2017

Larry Crump
G20 Engagement and the Foreign Office, T20Germany Blog

See also:
GCR21 Newsletter 1/2017