Paris: The New Switzerland
Wharton alumni and leaders share insights from the global Asia Society France Summer Summit.
Geopolitical Context
In Liu Cixin’s Three-Body Problem, survival requires navigating a system influenced by three competing forces. Today, those forces are the United States, China, and the European Union. Although Europe cannot rival Washington or Beijing in hard power, Paris has emerged as a neutral ground — a space where rivals test ideas away from the spotlight of capital politics.
Asia Society Summer Summit in Paris
The summer summit in Paris demonstrated this unique role. Duncan Clark, founding trustee and co-chair of Asia Society France, explained:
“We designed Paris as a place to transcend binaries — beyond ‘hawk’ or ‘dove,’ beyond capital-to-capital talking points. China’s decisions now shape supply chains, tech standards, and climate outcomes worldwide. You need a room where that complexity can be explored with rigor — and without theatrics.”
Significance of Paris’s Role
- Offers a platform for complex geopolitical discussions.
- Encourages nuanced debate beyond traditional confrontations.
- Focuses on issues like supply chains, technological standards, and climate impact globally.
Paris thus represents a new kind of diplomatic arena, providing the space necessary for productive dialogue among global powers.
Author’s Summary
Paris has become a unique diplomatic hub that facilitates nuanced global discussions beyond traditional power struggles, crucial for addressing complex international issues.