This ninth edition of “Atlantic Currents” appears in an international context marked predominantly by a ten month-war between Russia and Nato members that began February 2022. The war is affecting not only
International annual conference on the Wider Atlantic
The Atlantic Dialogues
12-14
December, 2024
Rabat, Morocco
The Policy Center for the New South has established The Atlantic Dialogues conference as a cornerstone for debate and cross-cutting dialogue, addressing topics of regional and global interest and rebalancing the South-North debate. Over the years, the conference has become a meeting point between the four continents of the Atlantic, and has sought to suggest a new understanding of Atlantic dynamics – the Wider Atlantic- underscoring the growing importance of the South Atlantic in the global geopolitical debate, and building bridges between Africa and South America, in dialogue with Europe and North America. The vision of this event is therefore to gather perspectives from across the Atlantic and create an inclusive platform where the North actively listens to and engages with voices from the South, hence contributing to bridging the South-North divide and to a new articulation of South-North and South-South cooperation frameworks. The aim of the conference is to foster a safe and efficient space for cross-sectoral and cross regional discussions through bold, uninhibited, and frank debate. Through the Atlantic Dialogues Emerging Leaders program, the conference also allows for intergenerational dialogue as it brings together annually 40 young change-makers from across the Atlantic who take part in a policy, leadership and networking program and attend the conference to fill in the generational and perception gaps.
Since its inception, The Atlantic Dialogues has brought together over 2000 eminent leaders, experts, and policymakers from across the globe with a vested interest in reshaping the narrative, with a strong focus on voices from the South, of which a community of over 400 Emerging Leaders from over 70 nationalities. This diverse community is committed to challenging persistent biases and perceptions about the Atlantic, striving for a more balanced narrative. The Atlantic Dialogues continually pushes the envelope, questioning the status quo and offering fresh insights into the complex issues facing the (Wider) Atlantic and the world.
AD2022 has so far...
Speakers
Atlantic Currents
The yearly report Atlantic Currents is published on the first day of each Atlantic Dialogues’ edition. In this flagship publication, researchers and experts from the Policy Center for the New South’s network analyze the state of Africa and the world with respect to the conference’s annual theme.
Interview with Otaviano Canuto, Senior Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South
Karim El Aynaoui
Executive President, Policy Center for the New South
Morocco
Lilia Rizk
Manager - Emerging Leaders Unit, Policy Center for the New South
Morocco
The final plenary is dedicated to the Atlantic Dialogues Emerging Leaders (ADEL), a tailor-made leadership program gathering young professionals from across the Atlantic before and during the conference. This year, the ADEL program connects 30 women and men, aged 25 to 35, who have been selected from a pool of over 1600 applicants. These young professionals have demonstrated leadership in their fields and aim to shape the regional and global agenda in politics, finance, business, civil society, academia and the media.
This year’s program, held from December 11 to 13, consists of structured group conversations with decision and opinion makers on key Atlantic development and cooperation issues, informal meetings with innovative community leaders and think tank representatives, and innovative workshops and sessions on collective intelligence, leadership and public policy, to name a few. It also leads to the creation of an interconnected community of 350 Alumni, that the Policy Center is following and inviting in various activities.
Every year, the final plenary of the Atlantic Dialogues conference is dedicated to the Emerging leaders. It provides a platform for the younger generation of Atlantic leaders to share their perspectives on the topic of their choice, but also serves a refreshing conference send-off. The group votes for four of their peers to represent them on stage, a customary way for the Policy Center to close the conference.
Latin America (LATAM) was severely affected by COVID-19 as it accounted for a high mortality rate, a decelerating economic performance and food insecurity has been on the rise. Soaring inflation has therefore taken place with no abating signs. However, opportunities for growth, investment and poverty reduction lurk for LATAM amidst the Eastern Europe conflict. LATAM states, especially large commodity exporters, are presented before a historical chance to take advantage of the current geopolitical turmoil. Raising commodity prices and diversifying its exports from primary to manufacturing products could eventually pay enormous dividends for LATAM. Nevertheless, addressing inflationary pressures cannot be fully realized without a strong interstate cooperation that would form a consolidated region, regardless of internal divisions and ideological differences.
- How is a potentially consolidated LATAM perceived, despite power asymmetries between its member states?
- Will existing trade agreements in LATAM, such as Mercosur, the Central American Common Market (CACM), and the Andean community, forge the path to a unified region with sufficient capabilities to fight the crisis?
- What are the odds of LATAM considerably replacing Russia’s role as a major raw material exporter in the status quo? What effects on the Wider Atlantic?