World regions have different degrees of access to water, energy, rare minerals and knowledge. This makes them more or less resilient. Looking at countries in this way sheds new light on their geopolitical strategies.
Money earned from raw materials can be a curse rather than a blessing. It helps autocratic regimes stay in power, ignore their people and leads to frequent wars. But there are exceptions.
The U.S. has typically harnessed technological advancements more rapidly than other countries. It has kept this productivity lead during the digital revolution. However, at least parts of Europe also appear to be prepared for the future.
The Gaza Strip has languished economically under the extremist Hamas, while the West Bank, which is run by moderate Palestinian organizations, has thrived. The reconstruction now necessary must be founded on a new framework for peace.
In Davos, 83 countries discussed the thorniest issues in the Ukrainian blueprint for peace. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis says China and Russia must be included in the next stage of the process.