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Report | 8 April 2020

YGLN Annual Trend Survey 2019

Arms Control Emerging technologies Europe Russia Russia-West Relations Security United States Euro-Atlantic Security YGLN
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The ELN conducted the first of a series of annual trend surveys for the Younger Generation Leaders Network (YGLN). The 2019 report reflects upon the views of a number of YGLN respondents on the most challenging topics that are currently affecting Euro-Atlantic societies.

While there are diverging views on most of the themes, the key findings are:

  • YGLN respondents are tremendously concerned about the threats caused by climate change, poverty & economic inequality and right-wing populism
  • West-Russia relations: While there are certain fields of possible development, most do not predict an easing of tension between Russia and the West in the near future
  • Emerging technologies: They bear risks but also benefits for our societies. However, we are alarmingly unprepared for the coming onslaught of technological under- and unemployment
  • Climate change: This has to be dealt with collectively by the governments of the Euro-Atlantic states and decision-makers should exert more pressure on the private sector to incentivize climate-beneficiary consumer choices
  • Right-wing populism: There is a fatal and intensifying concurrence of climate change, migration and right-wing populism that Euro-Atlantic societies will face in the future
  • WMD: without a clear commitment to existing arms control treaties and without fresh thinking that includes new threats such as cyber and new technologies, we may be exposed to an uncontrolled arms race

Download the report here

The opinions articulated above represent the views of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Leadership Network (ELN) or any of the ELN’s members. The ELN’s aim is to encourage debates that will help develop Europe’s capacity to address pressing foreign, defence, and security challenges.

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