Cooperation between ideologies.

In some recent articles, I have discussed the importance of cooperation rather than confrontation between people, organisations and countries, in economic, cultural and other fields, even if we disagree on ideologies and other more or less profound things. I have referred to the work of the World Economic Forum (WEF), founded and led by Professor Klaus Schwab since the earlier 1970s. WEF brings together world leaders, yes, the rich and famous, powerful and ruthless, but also members of the youth and others in cultural and other fields, with less power but sometimes with alternative thoughts. Everyone benefits from discussing with friends and foes, strangers and others with entirely different take on reality and how to do things better. If we all mix and exchange views openly and honestly, perhaps we will realise that we can work together on many things. But we must realise that there is a need for more common regulations and systems for cooperation so it can benefit all, not only the rich and famous, indeed the multinationals. We need more democracy for broader contact and cooperation to work; it should be based on principles and standards, even ideologies.

About one third of the world's countries are not democracies; some of them have wars and internal conflicts. But also countries considered democracies take part in military conflicts abroad, but their situation at home is usually more peaceful than in countries under authoritarian rule. There is a distinction between democracies and non-democracies, but there are degrees of people's participation in both types of states. It is important that discussions and dialogue take place, irrespective of what one would think about the other states' systems.

In my article last week, I drew attention to Western Europe's failure to cooperate more positively with Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) after the end of the Cold War. It was a costly failure that the world suffers from today. Countries with longer democratic experience can give advice to younger states; older democracies will learn on the way, too, so they can renew their systems and cooperate better with others. Once the Corona pandemic is over, we have an important opportunity to revisit and renew bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, including the UN and other organisations.

In all countries, political parties, civil society organisations, universities and think tanks, the civil service and the private sector, and so...