On 16-17 October 2024 the Founder and Executive Director of ACCORD, Dr Vasu Gounden, was invited to attend and present at the Astana Think Tanks Forum hosted by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, that took place in Astana, Kazakhstan. The theme of this year’s Forum was ‘Middle Powers in a changing global order: Enhancing security, stability and sustainable development’.
The Forum explored the evolving role of middle powers in an increasingly complex and multipolar international system. As traditional power dynamics shift, middle powers find themselves uniquely positioned to shape global outcomes through coalition-building, niche diplomacy and strategic partnerships. Some of the key topics that the Forum addressed included, middle powers leverage their diplomatic strengths to influence global decision-making and mediate between great powers; looking at the role of middle powers in shaping trade agreements, technological innovation and economic governance; exploring how middle powers contribute to regional stability, peacekeeping efforts and non-proliferation initiatives. Additionally the Forum addressed middle powers strategies for reform and representation in international organisations; looking at emerging challenges such as climate change, cybersecurity, and global health, etc, where middle powers could lead by example; and comparing approaches of diverse middle powers to global challenges.
Dr Gounden participated as a panelist in Session 3 that was held on 16 October 2024, which focused on the topic of ‘Guiding International Peace: A call for mediators’. The panel aimed to explore the unique position of countries-mediators in global conflicts and tensions, looking at how these nations could leverage their diplomatic influence, perceived neutrality, and international networks to facilitate dialogue, build bridges between conflicting parties, and contribute to peaceful resolutions in various global hotspots.
The President of Kazakhstan, H.E. President Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly Tokayev addressed the Forum in a closed session on 17 October 2024, to which Dr Gounden was invited.
The Forum brought together leading experts from around the world including the Directors of leading foreign policy think tanks; researchers focused on global governance and middle power diplomacy issues; and foreign policy advisors and practitioners from key partner countries to engage in discussions on these critical issues.
