In October 1976, a Report to the Club of Rome was presented under the title "Reshaping the International Order"(1) The Report had been developed by 21 specialists from a variety of countries and disciplines with Jan Tinbergen, Nobel in Economics as coordinator. Professor Tinbergen had also contacted a number of outside specialits on international development issues for exchanges of views. it was in this context that I exchanged views with professor Tinbergen and was concerned with the possibility of follow up action. Unless there is constructive political action which mobilizes people's constructive energies, the best analysis remains a subject of academic discussion while practical policy making by governments goes on unaffected.
The first Report to the Club of Rome "The Limits to Growth" (2) concluded that "If the present growth trends in world population, industrialization, pollution, food production and resource depletion continue unchanged, the most probable result will be a rather sudden and uncontrollable decline in both population and industrial capacity." Thus the Club of Rome leaders saw that the crises were not temporary but reflected a trend in historical patterns of development. They created the Tinbergen-led group to set out some of the required changes and measures to inspire large-scale cohesive action. It was the time to open effective public debate.
Jan Tinbergen set out the priorities for action: world trade. "The rich countries are paying lip service to the free market mechanism but, on the one hand they refuse to admit sufficient goods from developing countries, especially industrial products, by having import duties or quantitative restrictions, whereas on the other hand, when it comes to the market for raw materials and agricultural products, they do not want to cooperate in commodity agreements although these are the markets where the market forces do not really work. However, we are becoming increasingly interdependent, and it is thus in the interests of all to strive to improve cooperation at all levels."
Unfortunately in the years since 1976, there has been little discussion among the broad public of world trade issues, even little discussion of policies within national parliaments. Thus on 14 May 2024, President Biden placed a 100 percent tariff on Chinese electric cars. The European Union followed by placing a 48 percent tariff. Discussion of trade wars between the U.S.A. and China have grown. For the moment, the Chinese electric car makers have responded by starting factories in Spain.
Thus these issues of trade and reshaping the international order are still priorities on which there should be informed discussion.
Notes
1) Reshaping the International Order (London: Dutton and Co, 1976)
2) D.H. Meaddows, D.L. Meadows et al. The Limits to Growth (New York: Universe Books, 1972)
René Wadlow, Association of World Citizens
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