With the world on the verge of what might be an unprecedented recession, this year’s G20, set to unfold in Bali, holds special significance. While some observers will be keen to see how America’s President Biden and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin interact—if at all—smarter observers know that Russia has become a secondary actor in world affairs. That is not to deny Russia’s significance, only to underscore what the war in Ukraine has taught us. The true contest appears to be between the West and China.
How the rest of the world organizes itself in that binary is hard to tell; equally, however, it is significant to note that the West is not simply the United States. The European Union remains a colossal economic force, remarkably influential, and has proved over the course of the war in Ukraine that it can take ever more cohesive positions. Even when there are clear costs attached. Yet if the world is to escape recession, and Europe is to continue to be an economic power, Europe must emphasize its independence on matters of principle.
We cannot allow the European Union and affiliated European economies to get caught in the protectionist trap China and the United States are descending to. That does not mean the United States is not an ally, or that certain technologies have security implications, or that sanctions cannot be a tool to combat aggression. What it does mean is that we cannot sacrifice fundamental principles for the sake of short-term calculation. Free trade is the only long-term solution to the economic and ecological challenges we face.
The G20 middle powers need to band together & insist that the US, China, & Europe work together with them to advance multilateral solutions to subsidies, climate, digital trade, & dispute settlement challenges.https://t.co/vrbblpUUkD
— Peterson Institute (@PIIE) November 2, 2022
Locating the G20 in Indonesia this year is significant for Europe, too; for some time now, ASEAN—of which Indonesia is a member—has been exploring enhancing trade with the EU. The potential of this agreement would be huge, not only because of the size of the economies involved, but also because it would push back against a global trend towards protectionism and challenge China in its bid to line countries and blocs up behind it. Should the EU score a victory here, this will help push Washington to remain committed to smart free trade.
Locating the G20 in Indonesia this year is significant for another reason, too, one which may not immediately seem to have application to the question of free trade.
The opportunities offered by the R20 summit
This year, the G20’s program in Indonesia includes the Religion Forum, or R20, a space where religious leaders from G20 nations gather to discuss shared challenges and launch shared initiatives. The main forces behind the R20’s Muslim delegations are the Muslim World League, the Islamic world’s largest non-governmental organization, which has partnered with Indonesia’s Nahdlatul Ulama, a massive clerical body with millions of members.
For each to reach across boundaries and borders in the cause of religious solidarity is significant, but more so because each has become increasingly dedicated to working with other faith communities across borders. For his part, the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Dr. Muhammad Abdul Karim Al-Issa, a senior Saudi scholar, has argued that religion has a vital role to play in spaces like the G20—our modern-day problems often have spiritual and moral roots.
Substantively addressing them will require spiritual and moral leadership.
To this end, for example, Dr. Al-Issa announced during proceedings of the R20 that the Muslim World League will create a humanitarian fund to aid victims of war, with a focus on Ukraine. That dedication by a Muslim organization to a European, largely Christian country—with a Jewish President (and, of course, a historically significant Muslim minority)—is inspiring, especially seen alongside the R20’s incredible religious diversity.
Leaders from all faiths are present, up to the most senior levels. Indeed, His Holiness Pope Francis addressed the R20’s opening day.
What, one might ask, does this have to do with global free trade? From a historic angle, it’s telling that societies we associate today with economic openness, creative dynamism, and high levels of wealth and prosperity—such as Singapore, Dubai, or the Netherlands—were not just dedicated to economic freedom but religious freedom. (Indeed, the Dutch founded New York City; this is probably not a coincidence.)
We are honoured to attend the first G20 Religion Forum (R20) organized as part of #G20Indonesia 🇮🇩.
The #R20Summit will provide a platform through which religious leaders from across the 🌍 will ensure that religion brings solutions to global problems. pic.twitter.com/FXshOQt1qP
— KAICIID (@KAICIID) November 3, 2022
What I mean is not just that moves towards greater religious freedom, cooperation and toleration aren’t just good in and of themselves, but they should inspire Europeans at a time when we might come to fear that we must also pursue protectionism—because the world’s other great powers are, too. But if religious leaders at the G20 are moving towards greater openness, and these efforts are bearing fruit, should we not also hold our ground?
Religious freedom opens the door to economic freedom; we will see that as these societies become more welcoming of diversity in a spiritual sense, they will celebrate entrepreneurship and innovation in the economic sense. For centuries, a strong sense of religion, respectful, communal, but autonomous of government, made liberal societies not just possible but prosperous. Maybe we can find that conviction again.
And because the R20 is unfolding as part of and preceding the G20, its conclusions will undoubtedly have greater impact. Beginning in Bali, and then moving to India and Brazil in years to follow, this development in global faith conversations might be surprising. But it should be welcome to all, especially in the West, where strong autonomous religious traditions once ensured our freedom and stability.
Lennox Kalifungwa is a political and cultural affairs writer based in his native Zambia, where he is involved in a number of Christian faith–based initiatives
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