On October 20, 2017, within the framework of the World Festival of Youth and Students-2017, the Valdai Discussion Club will hold a special session, titled "Birth of the New World: Conflicts and Responsibility". The international system has entered a period of dramatic transformation. The institutions, approaches, ideas and systems of relations inherited from the 20th century are not coping with the rapidly changing reality.

       What seemed axiomatic 20 years ago is now becoming increasingly dubious. The alignment of forces is drastically changing in all areas. This creates an explosive situation everywhere – from geopolitical contradictions to collisions over environmental protection and technological development. Conflicts are inevitable but a new international order is taking shape in the wake of their resolution. Previous eras of radical change were accompanied by wars and catastrophic social upheaval. In the year of the one hundredth anniversary of the Russian revolution, which became the quintessence of the destruction of the old world order, it is especially important to feel responsibility. Maximum prudence and caution is required from everyone in order to prevent complications, minimize risks and jointly build a new system.

       Panelists:

       Fyodor LUKYANOV, Research Director, Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club; Chairman, Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, Russian Federation; Editor-in-Chief, Russia in Global Affairs;

       Anatol LIEVEN, Professor, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service – Qatar;

       SHENG Shiliang, Senior Research Fellow, Global Challenges Studies, Xinhua News Agency

       Alexander Rahr, Research Director, German-Russian Forum

       Moderator:

       Piotr DUTKIEWICZ, Director and Professor, Center for Governance and Public Policy, Carleton University, Ottawa