Forging the Future: Politics, Economics, and Society in Global Public Policy

Name: Forging the Future: Politics, Economics, and Society in Global Public Policy
Start: 2026-05-15T00:00:00Z
End: 2026-05-15T00:00:00Z
Location: Suzhou

May 15, 2026Suzhou, ChinaIn-person

Registration open

The conference "Forging the Future: Politics, Economics, and Society in Global Public Policy" convenes in Suzhou, CHN, to explore the intricate connections between political, economic, and societal forces shaping global public policy. This event provides a platform for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss contemporary challenges and innovative solutions in a rapidly evolving international landscape. Participants will engage with diverse perspectives on how these interconnected domains influence policy formulation and implementation worldwide.

Committees & topics

Second Committee of the General Assembly
Economic and Financial Committee (GA2nd)
Fourth Committee of the General Assembly
Special Political and Decolonization Committee (GA4th)
World Health Assembly
World Health Assembly (WHA)
International Labour Organisation
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

Why it matters

In an era characterized by complex global challenges, understanding the interplay of politics, economics, and society is paramount for effective public policy. This conference addresses the urgent need for interdisciplinary dialogue to tackle issues ranging from geopolitical shifts to economic disparities and social transformations. By fostering collaboration and the exchange of ideas, the event aims to contribute to more robust and equitable policy outcomes globally.

The discussions at this conference are particularly relevant given the current geopolitical climate, where traditional power structures are being re-evaluated and new actors are emerging on the world stage. The economic implications of global events, coupled with diverse societal responses, necessitate a comprehensive approach to policy development. This gathering offers a crucial forum for dissecting these dynamics and proposing forward-looking strategies that can navigate the complexities of the present and future.

How to prepare

To prepare effectively for this conference, attendees should consider a comprehensive review of current events and their implications for global public policy. Familiarity with the political and economic landscapes of key regions, particularly in Asia, will be beneficial given the conference's location in Suzhou, CHN. Participants should also be prepared to discuss the societal impacts of various policies, drawing on examples from different cultural and developmental contexts.

Prospective attendees may find it useful to engage with materials that explore the concept of "what-is-stakeholder-mapping" to better understand the diverse actors involved in policy processes. Additionally, a review of "gender-dynamics-across-cultures" can provide valuable insights into how societal factors influence policy outcomes and implementation. Considering these dimensions will enable a more nuanced and impactful contribution to the conference's objectives.

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 5 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

China

As the host nation, CHN is a central player in global public policy discussions, particularly concerning economic development and international relations.

Role in topic

CHN's rapid economic growth and increasing geopolitical influence make its policies and perspectives critical to any discussion on global public policy. Its approach to balancing economic liberalization with state control, and its role in international institutions, are key areas of interest.

United States

The USA's foreign policy and economic decisions significantly impact global public policy, often setting precedents or influencing international norms.

Role in topic

The USA's role as a global superpower means its political decisions, economic policies, and societal trends have far-reaching implications for international public policy. Its engagement in multilateral forums and bilateral relations shapes global governance.

Germany

DEU is a leading economic power in Europe, advocating for multilateralism and sustainable development within global policy frameworks.

Role in topic

As a major European economy, DEU's policies on trade, climate change, and human rights are influential in shaping global public policy. Its commitment to international cooperation and its economic stability provide a significant voice in global discussions.

Brazil

BRA represents a significant emerging economy with a unique perspective on development, environmental policy, and South-South cooperation.

Role in topic

BRA's position as a large developing economy in South America offers a crucial perspective on global public policy, particularly concerning sustainable development, resource management, and regional integration. Its domestic political and economic challenges also reflect broader global trends.

India

IND's demographic scale and economic growth present unique policy challenges and opportunities, influencing global discussions on development and technology.

Role in topic

As the world's most populous democracy and a rapidly growing economy, IND's experiences in public policy, particularly in areas like digital transformation, poverty reduction, and healthcare, offer valuable insights for global discussions.

Topics & background

The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it.

Second Committee of the General Assembly

Economic and Financial Committee (GA2nd)

The Second Committee, established alongside the General Assembly in 1945, handles questions of economic development, international finance, trade, sustainable development, and global macroeconomic policy. Its modern agenda emerged from the decolonization era, when newly independent states pressed for a New International Economic Order, and from the post-Cold War consensus that linked development to debt relief, trade liberalization, and later the Millennium and Sustainable Development Goals. Recurrent fault lines pit the G77 and China, which emphasize policy space, financing for development, and common but differentiated responsibilities, against major OECD economies that prioritize market access, private investment, and conditional aid. Today the committee is grappling with the implementation gap left by the 2015 Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the 2030 Agenda, both well off track. A debt crisis across low- and middle-income economies, climate finance shortfalls following COP commitments, food and energy shocks tied to the war in Ukraine, and the contested reform of the international financial architecture (including the IMF, World Bank, and credit rating systems) dominate negotiations. The 2025 Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla refocused attention on tax cooperation, sovereign debt resolution, and SDR rechanneling — issues the Second Committee now translates into General Assembly resolutions.

Key players

Fourth Committee of the General Assembly

Special Political and Decolonization Committee (GA4th)

The Fourth Committee was originally the Trusteeship Committee, charged with overseeing the dismantling of the colonial system after 1945. With the 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (Resolution 1514) and the creation of the Committee of 24, decolonization accelerated dramatically, but seventeen Non-Self-Governing Territories remain on the UN list, including Western Sahara, Gibraltar, the Falklands/Malvinas, French Polynesia, and New Caledonia. In 1993 the committee absorbed Special Political functions, adding peacekeeping operations, UNRWA and Palestinian refugees, the peaceful uses of outer space, mine action, and information policy to its remit. Current disputes are sharp. The Western Sahara file remains deadlocked between Morocco's autonomy proposal and the Polisario Front's demand for a self-determination referendum. UNRWA faces an existential funding and legitimacy crisis amid the Gaza war and Israeli legislation restricting its operations. Peacekeeping is contracting after the closures of MINUSMA and MONUSCO, raising questions about mandates, host-state consent, and protection of civilians. Outer space debates have shifted toward space debris, ASAT testing, and equitable access for developing states.

Key players

World Health Assembly (WHA)

The World Health Assembly is the supreme decision-making body of the World Health Organization, established in 1948 to set global health norms, approve the WHO budget, and elect the Director-General. Over its history it has driven landmark achievements including the eradication of smallpox in 1980, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2003, and the revised International Health Regulations in 2005. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed severe gaps in those regulations: delayed information sharing, inequitable access to vaccines and therapeutics, and weak compliance mechanisms, prompting the Assembly to launch parallel negotiations on IHR amendments and a new pandemic instrument. In May 2025 the WHA adopted the WHO Pandemic Agreement, the organization's second-ever treaty under Article 19. Implementation is now contested on several fronts: the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex, technology transfer obligations, and the financing of preparedness in low-income countries. Parallel agenda items include the operationalization of the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases, antimicrobial resistance, climate and health, and a constrained WHO budget following the United States' notice of withdrawal in January 2025. Geopolitical tensions over Taiwan's observer status and health conditions in conflict zones (Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine) recur each session.

Key players

International Labour Organisation (ILO)

Founded in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles and incorporated as the first specialized agency of the UN in 1946, the ILO is unique for its tripartite structure, in which governments, employers, and workers each have a vote. It has adopted 191 conventions, including the eight (now ten) fundamental Conventions covering forced labour, child labour, freedom of association, collective bargaining, discrimination, and — added in 2022 — occupational safety and health. The 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the 2019 Centenary Declaration anchor its modern mandate around a human-centred future of work. The contemporary agenda is shaped by structural shifts: platform and gig work outside traditional employment categories, AI-driven automation, persistent informality affecting roughly 60 percent of the global workforce, just-transition challenges as economies decarbonize, and a sharp rise in forced labour and modern slavery (an estimated 27.6 million people). Live disputes include a proposed convention on decent work in the platform economy under negotiation at the 2025-2026 International Labour Conference, scrutiny of forced labour allegations in supply chains (notably cotton from Xinjiang and cocoa from West Africa), and the application of freedom-of-association standards in Belarus, Myanmar, and Nicaragua.

Key players

Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

The OPCW, headquartered in The Hague, is the implementing body of the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention, which entered into force in 1997 and now has 193 States Parties — making it the most universally adhered-to disarmament treaty. The Convention prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons and mandates their verifiable destruction. The United States completed destruction of its declared stockpile in July 2023, formally closing the era of declared Cold War-era arsenals; Russia declared completion in 2017, though the accuracy of its declaration is disputed. The regime is now strained by repeated use allegations and attribution disputes. Confirmed chemical weapons use in Syria from 2013 onward led to the creation of the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team in 2018, which has attributed multiple attacks to the Assad government; Syria's December 2024 political transition has reopened questions of full declaration and accountability. Other flashpoints include the 2018 Novichok attack in Salisbury and the 2020 poisoning of Alexei Navalny attributed to Russian agents, allegations of chlorine and riot-control agent misuse in Ukraine, and rising concern over central nervous system-acting chemicals, novel toxins, and the convergence of chemistry with AI and biotechnology. Verification, universality (notably the absence of Israel, Egypt, North Korea, and South Sudan), and the future of the Syria file dominate the Executive Council and Conference of States Parties.

Key players

Resources

News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for Forging the Future: Politics, Economics, and Society in Global Public Policy.

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Lessons

Bite-sized lessons to build the basics

Hidden Stakeholders

Engagement Strategies

Dynamic Analysis

Stakeholder Mapping Workshop

Courses

Guided courses that go deeper on the topic

Advanced Negotiation

Multilateral Negotiation

Policy Brief Writing

Conflict Resolution

The states in play, with the data that shapes their stance

Country dossier

Country dossier

Country dossier

Country dossier

Country dossier

Country dossier

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Country dossier

Country dossier

By committee

Frequently asked questions

Forging the Future: Politics, Economics, and Society in Global Public Policy

May 15, 2026Suzhou, ChinaIn-person

Registration open

Committees & topics

Second Committee of the General Assembly
Economic and Financial Committee (GA2nd)
Fourth Committee of the General Assembly
Special Political and Decolonization Committee (GA4th)
World Health Assembly
World Health Assembly (WHA)
International Labour Organisation
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

Why it matters

How to prepare

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 5 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

China

As the host nation, CHN is a central player in global public policy discussions, particularly concerning economic development and international relations.

Role in topic

United States

The USA's foreign policy and economic decisions significantly impact global public policy, often setting precedents or influencing international norms.

Role in topic

Germany

DEU is a leading economic power in Europe, advocating for multilateralism and sustainable development within global policy frameworks.

Role in topic

Brazil

BRA represents a significant emerging economy with a unique perspective on development, environmental policy, and South-South cooperation.

Role in topic

India

IND's demographic scale and economic growth present unique policy challenges and opportunities, influencing global discussions on development and technology.

Role in topic