Following the developments that the world endured in 2023, the state of the world in 2024 has been plagued by restless conflicts, geopolitical discourses, and a seemingly uneasy future for these events taking place. From the war between Russia and Ukraine to the growing uncertainty of war in the Middle East region, polarizing conflicts linger in the minds of countries worldwide. Rising concerns also arise over human rights issues, the plethora of democratic elections being held this year, the global distribution of AI and digital technology, geopolitical turmoil, global financial developments, and even non-traditional issues such as global health, climate action, and food security issues.

Now, more than ever, the world stands at the edge of a turning point. Which way the world turns, however, depends entirely on how all of these issues will develop and be handled in the near future. At this point in time, there needs to be involvement and cooperation between the Global North-South, East-West. But above all, there needs to be an understanding; an understanding of what is happening in the world right now, an understanding of what needs to be done, and an understanding of what’s to come afterwards.

In hopes of reaching that common ground of understanding between the Global North-South, East-West, the first session of the Global Town Hall: “State of the World” will look into critical global issues shaping the world’s current landscape. We will explore the geopolitical shifts, political and economic trends, along with social dynamics that are influencing international relations and domestic policies.