Comment permalink

Global inequality and the rise of authoritarian states pose the greatest threat in 2019, Professor Robert Patman warns.

In the latest edition of Global Insight, the University of Otago international relations specialist outlines the top three threats New Zealand faces this year.

At number three, he has the urgent need to respond to environmental challenges. New Zealand is primarily an agricultural exporter dependent on a stable environment.

But, Prof Patman asks, is the country aware of how pressing the issues of extreme weather events, declining fresh water quality and rising sea levels is becoming?

Second on the list of threats facing New Zealand, is the diplomatic squeeze being put on the nation by the two competing superpowers, the United States and China.

On issues of human rights and the rule of law, New Zealand does not share the world view of either the Trump administration or the Xi Jinping administration.

But we need to find a way of maintaining relations with both without becoming a doormat to either country, he says.

Prof Patman says the greatest global threat in 2019, is the crumbling of the international rules based system. 

This threat is coming from several quarters, including Russia, China, the US and the United Kingdom. The rules were in place to defend the weak, but they are being weakened and, in some cases, trampled.

He urges New Zealand, and like-minded liberal democracies, to speak out - not just to maintain the status quo, but to tackle global problems, especially inequality.

A recent report states that 28 of the world's richest billionaires have more wealth than half the global population.

"That's not sustainable,'' Prof Patman says.

We need to find ways to "make the international economy work better for more people''.

He warns the risk, if that doesn't happen, is that people will lose faith in democracy, allowing authoritarian regimes to increase.