As 2024 comes to a close, we face a convergence of escalating crises—climate change, wars, geopolitical tensions, economic instability, and social upheavals. How can the international community address these interlinked challenges? What reforms or strengthening of global institutions might be needed to better navigate this complex polycrisis in 2025 and beyond?
Join us for the State of the World 2024 event, featuring a lecture and panel discussion that examines today’s critical global issues and explores pathways toward a more peaceful, sustainable, and just future.
The evening begins with a lecture by Risto Marjomaa, university lecturer and docent at the University of Helsinki, who will provide insights into the State of the World in 2024. Following this, a panel discussion will bring together guests from diverse fields of expertise to explore four key themes: Climate Action and Global Responsibility, Global Peace and Security, Gender Equality and Human Rights, and The Future of Global Cooperation and Leadership. The event will conclude with an audience Q&A.
This event is free of charge and will be held in English. We welcome all who are interested in engaging with the pressing challenges of our time.
Date and Place:
- 2.12.2024
- Musiikkitalo, Terassilämpiö
- Time: 18:00
Schedule:
- 18:00: Risto Marjomaa Lecture: “State of the World 2024”
- 19:00: Break
- 19:15: Panel Discussion
- 20:45: Audience Questions
- 21:00: Event concludes
Guests:
Docent and Senior Lecturer Risto Marjomaa (University of Helsinki)
Risto Marjomaa is a docent and university lecturer at the Department of Philosophy, History and Art Studies at the University of Helsinki. His research covers the history of Africa and the Middle East, conflicts and warfare, and global history. Some of his recent work includes studies on Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, modern racism, and the role of religion in the Sudanese civil war. He has also presented talks on the influence of imperialism and colonialism on present-day conflicts.
Professor Heikki Patomäki (University of Helsinki)
Heikki Patomäki is a Professor of World Politics and Global Political Economy. He is a founding member of the Helsinki Centre for Global Political Economy. His research interests include philosophy, methodology of social sciences, economic theory, global political economy, big history, futures studies, and global justice and democracy. His latest book is World Statehood: The Future of World Politics (Springer 2023).
Professor Antti Kauppinen (University of Helsinki)
Antti Kauppinen is a Professor of Practical Philosophy at the University of Helsinki, specializing in ethics and metaethics. His research includes topics such as normativity, well-being, moral sentiments, and the meaning of life. He was the Principal Investigator of the Academy of Finland’s Responsible Beliefs: Why Ethics and Epistemology Need Each Other project (2019–2023) and is currently co-PI on the Kone Foundation project The Many Faces of Inquiry(2024–2028).
Professor Reetta Toivanen (University of Helsinki)
Reetta Toivanen is a Professor of Sustainability Sciences at the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS). She is also the Vice-Director of the Centre of Excellence in Law, Identity, and the European Narratives and currently leads its subproject on Migration and the Narratives of Europe as an “Area of Freedom, Security, and Justice”, funded by the Academy of Finland (2018–2025).
Moderators: Astrid Aminoff and Max Tallberg
