21st Century could see political borders fade as new world order emerges

The 21st century could witness a defining chapter in history when the world acts to phase out political borders in favour of economic integration, even as connectivity replaces sovereignty as the organising principle of a new world order, according to Parag Khanna, Managing Partner and Hybrid Reality Senior Fellow at Lee Kuan Yew School.

Khanna’s comments came on the second day of the World Government Summit, #WGS 2017, during his talk on what it means to live in a world with "liquid borders". He discussed the key trends shifting current physical borders and how a world of liquid borders will shape the future of citizenship. Khanna stressed the importance of governments in developing policies that will both maintain economic growth and protect individual sovereignty.

Speaking on how technology is reshaping the world and the incredible, astounding level of connectivity experienced today, he said, "What we’re finding more and more is that the voice of the people in cities concerning their professional businesses and social interests, are setting the national agenda. The psychology of cities around the world is showing us that they favour, and intrinsically depend on, connectivity between them."

The futurist pointed out that globalisation is still a very robust phenomenon, benefiting almost everyone. "There are more expatriates living outside of their country of origin than ever before, and that the majority of migration in the world is across emerging and developing markets," he added.

"In the last year alone, two billion people, represented by their governments, have said they want to bring down walls, have more ease of mobility for workers, students and travellers, and not to put up barriers and restrictions. So, while it is happening in some places where walls are being built, policies around immigration are changing and in many parts of the world things are opening-up more," he observed.

"We’re standing here in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates; what country in the world, and what city, has benefitted more from this mobility of labour? This is in fact one of the fastest growing cities ever and its infrastructural connectivity and openness to the mobility of people has been a crucial factor in its success - why we are standing here today."

Parag Khanna is a leading global strategist, world traveller, and best-selling author. He is a Senior Research Fellow in the Centre on Asia and Globalisation at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.