Theme:   Responding to Global Crises: New Development Paths

The opening round table will take a broad look at the overall theme of the Symposium. Last year's UNCTAD Public Symposium examined the causes and impacts of the global economic crisis, national and international policy responses and proposals for the way forward in terms of reforming the international financial architecture and global economic governance to support development. One year later, these issues remain cutting edge. The 2010 UNCTAD Public Symposium will revisit these questions in light of recent political developments, new threats and challenges, and the need to identify alternative development strategies (some new, some not so new) that can better support key objectives - such as building productive capacities, domestic resource mobilization, better external resource flows, full and gainful employment, food security and environmental sustainability in developing countries. The opening plenary will critically look at the idea of a return to "business as usual" and examine the change of course which is urgently required, not only to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other internationally agreed development objectives, but to avert economic, social and environmental catastrophes in the years to come.

Key questions:

• Is the worst of the crisis over or is this just a lull in an economic storm which could return with even greater force? What are the risks of further shocks triggering a new debt crisis, continued fall in demand and rising unemployment, or even trade wars?
  
• What are the major lessons that can be learnt from the recent financial, economic, food and energy crises? Do these lessons warrant fundamental rethinking of the mainstream development policy approaches and recommendations?
  
• To what extent do financial markets still dictate what governments can or cannot do to meet people's demands for full employment, food security and social protection? Is there a risk of a return to boom-and-bust policies, jobless growth or a new food crisis?
  
• What are the main proposals and challenges to make the international financial architecture more development-friendly? Can the required reforms be left to the G-20?
  
• Why has the international community been so far behind in meeting the MDGs, even before the onslaught of the recent crises? What needs to change in our current policies and approaches to meet the MDGs by 2015?
  
• What lessons can be learnt from the Copenhagen Summit to better address development policy challenges in future climate talks?
  
• What different paradigms/strategies could inform new development paths, including the enabling role of the State?
  
• What are the lessons for the United Nations system from the crises and what role can it play in promoting new development paths?

For more information please see How to Engage in the Public Symposium Debate.