Dictatorships’ GDPs ‘are now greater than the economic output of democratic nations for the first time in 120 years’
- David Miliband, 54, said economic output is now ‘greater’ in autocratic nations
- The former Foreign Secretary warned the ‘most basic rights’ are under threat
- The head of a global humanitarian group was speaking at a Davos summit today
The world’s economic output is now ‘greater’ in autocratic nations than it is in democratic ones, warned a former UK Foreign Secretary.
David Miliband, 54, said the ‘most basic rights’ are under threat as the ‘age of impunity’ has arrived.
The Chief Executive Officer of the International Rescue Committee, a global humanitarian organisation, was speaking at a summit in Davos, Switzerland, today.
David Miliband, pictured, said the ‘most basic rights’ are under threat as the ‘age of impunity’ during his speech at a summit in Davos, Switzerland, today
According to Yahoo Finance, Mr Miliband said: ‘Last year was the first year in 120 years when the GDP of countries that are democracies was less than the GDP of autocracies.’
‘The age of impunity is here, and it’s dangerous. Everything goes, and the law is for suckers. When war crimes go unpunished, and the laws of war become optional.’
He added: ‘The cheques that were written in 1945 to the most vulnerable in the world — cheques marked humanitarian law, cheques marked rights of civilians — those cheques are bouncing. The most basic rights are under threat.’
The guest list for this year’s World Economic Forum meeting in Switzerland stretched to more than 2,000 names, representing around 100 countries.
US White House National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien looks on during a bilateral meeting between Trump and Pakistan’s PM Imran Khan at this year’s 50th World Economic Forum
The elite group included regular attendees such as Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates LP, Steve Schwarzman, chairman of Blackstone Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO, Jamie Dimon.
Six of those attending are in the world’s 500 richest people, with the biggest amount of guests coming from the US, which has 33, followed by India with 19 heading to Davos.
Many attendees arrived by private jet and prices for food are said to be at eye-watering levels, including $43 for a hot dog.
From climate change to tensions in the Middle East, via trade conflicts and fears of pandemics, the more than 3,000 delegates at the World Economic Forum thrashed out imposing challenges.