At Davos, battle lines are drawn over trade and cooperation

World leaders in favor of international cooperation and free trade 

Please tell em you are not classifying Japan as a "leader in favor of free trade" haha. You can say nationalism all you want but every world leader has their own country's interest first. If they didn't they would not get elected by their own people.

That is the fate of Japan: a strong China means a strong Japan, a prosperous China means a prosperous Japan, a safe China means a safe Japan. Abe got it finally.

"I believe that it's worth bringing together like-minded people around the world...

ie. Sociopaths.

...because anything else will lead us into despair," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

actually it's politicians like Merkel who lead people into despair. For example, the flood/ invasion of migrants into Germany and other European countries (Kalergi plan) caused by many of the politicians themselves who caused this mass migration by bombing the Middle East, Africa.

Anything that comes from Davos will be for the establishment, not the ordinary person.

The free-trading neo-libs have been in charge for the past 30 years and have given us 19th century levels of inequality, stagnant wages, a shrinking middle class and the elevation of a communist authoritarian state now poised to become the world's dominant economic power.

And so the free-trading neo-libs are now confused, wondering why more and more people are calling an ideological overhaul and a reset of priorities.

AkieToday  07:04 am JST

That is the fate of Japan: a strong China means a strong Japan, a prosperous China means a prosperous Japan, a safe China means a safe Japan. Abe got it finally.

and when China says "islands historically that belonged to China are now going to be part of China", what are you going to do now?

ie. Sociopaths.

Exactly. A gathering of the elite and privileged, who are mainly concerned with enhancing their situation and keeping the masses under control. I suspect many of them don't even realize this themselves, so sheltered are their lives.

The US wants Free and Fair trade! Don't claim to be a free trader but protect your own markets.

The free-trading neo-libs have been in charge for the past 30 years and have given us 19th century levels of inequality, stagnant wages, a shrinking middle class and the elevation of a communist authoritarian state now poised to become the world's dominant economic power.

I'm trying to understand the logic here. So the Neo-Libs (which I am decidedly not one of) are elevating a communist authoritarian state and this communist state is in favor of free trade? Free trading communists? Who is the "us" and where is the "state" in this? Did you mean that neo-liberal policies have created a ground-swell of people interested in socialism, communism or Marxist theory in reaction to the inequality, stagnant wages and shrinking middle class? I'm having a hard time connecting the dots.

I believe in free but fair trade.

And I believe in the benefit of international organizations to promote free trade, global cooperation, and the like.

However, I also believe that there is an entire, elite class of politicians, bureaucrats / technocrats, intellectuals and business people who care not one whit about the needs and wants of the average person in countries in the world.

They promote policies and initiatives that can bring real harm and destroy the lives of so many. And they are sheltered from the effects of that which they promote.

And nothing represents this more than Davos. One of the topics they are discussing is climate change. And yet more than 1,500 private jets are estimated to be used for participants to get to Davos. Not to mention the limousines, helicopters and the link.

And, of course, they will eat insane amounts of caviar, drink barrels of the finest wine and champagne.

All while promoting policies that sometimes bring real harm to the average citizen.

J-Drake

No, the neo-lib assumption that prosperity and globalization would bring China into the liberal, democratic Western-friendly free-trading fold turned out to be fatally flawed -- beyond wrong. China is in fact hardening its communist stance with no intention of opening up, as witnessed with its "Made in China 2025" initiative (protectionism on steroids) and the most recent Party Congress statement.

The neo-lib "stakeholders" (ie, the Davos billionaire crowd) are facilitating by effectively allowing it to rip off our technologies for their own exclusive short term profit, while the long term consequences for working people in the West ("we) will be devastating. How hard is that to understand.

JeffLee,

Less hard now that you actually explained how you got from point A to Z. Perhaps we don't all read all the same media as you and therefore make the same assumptions. Please don't take my comment as a slight. I was sincerely trying to understand what you were saying as it sounded interesting and it still does.

I do wonder where the world goes with China now (and vice-versa). I agree that the Neo-liberal experiment has failed as badly as China's (oddly consumerist) take on communism. Both have resulted in inequality, trampling of human rights and a wild and ever-widening wealth gap.

Abby in his “take me seriously I am not a clown” glasses!

more of the same talk and no action.

Let's stop cheap made in China and focus make to made in own countries better.. Or shift cheap manufacturing to Africa better, China is second richest country, it's enough

"World leaders" ? Who ? Abe haa...Looks like Big Puppet.

Trump had intended to visit Davos with a big delegation to meet with the Chinese over the trade issues. They cancelled the trip, however, due to the government shutdown

He actually didn't go because he knew he would be pummeled by the real world leaders at Davos (when did trump ever do something simply because he "should"?) He was afraid to go. It is very heartening that some leaders are speaking out against this scourge we are saddled with in the US.

Globalism = raw, unchecked capitalism. Fortunately the Japanese elites seem to know what they are doing.

The free-trading neo-libs have been in charge for the past 30 years and have given us 19th century levels of inequality, stagnant wages, a shrinking middle class and the elevation of a communist authoritarian state now poised to become the world's dominant economic power. 

And so the free-trading neo-libs are now confused, wondering why more and more people are calling an ideological overhaul and a reset of priorities.

Very succinct and very well said.

What's Bono doing there? If he really wants to "close the gap" he could start by paying his taxes at the correct rate instead of engaging in convoluted tax avoidance schemes.

That Chinese guy looks like Gollum.

Bono's hand gesture applies to himself and all those globalists present among the "dizzying array of heads of state".

Zones2surf. Very well stated. These so called elites have also done a great job at dividing the population (just look at internet posts) and the R vs D divide or whatever the flavor of the divide is works so well for them to achieve the end game. Wealth gap growing exponentially as we commoners argue over political affiliations etc

the 1,500 private jets! An exclamation point on the hypocrisy.

Pm abe, it is time that U build English into everything in Japan before U talk abt Global and free trade. For 2020 or after, if high level people of all nations come here to Japan , they are going to wonder why ??? what they are seeing are different from what U are saying. How can U have free trade when everything important in Japan is still in Japanese. It is time if U want imports & exports to improve to have everything in English. international mind & heart, international trade. Simple.

Davos is just the state of the world made real.  Look at the various "e;lite" folks there.  Politicians, bankers, entertainers, media big business etc etc.  And talking about what is best for the rest of us.

Neo Lib hypocrisy at its best.

I saw an article today stating that Merkel is to speak at Davos about the creation of a European army. This is a day after she and Macron signed a new treaty on Franco-German cooperation which she described as "a step toward the European army."

Each country already has armed forces so does the EU really need an army? Ostensibly it's to protect Europe since Macron later told the forum (ironically) that as "authoritarian powers are emerging everywhere... let's build a real European army to protect ourselves and have a real foreign policy."

But is the real reason for this army to keep the public in line such as the yellow vests movement, or any government/country which doesn't toe the EU line? I'm sure Macron could do with some help from a European army at the moment.