As every year, the Davos World Economic Forum served as an important showcase of how global political and economic elites view the world and the priorities that guide them. However, this year’s discussions focused not only on economic growth or technological innovation, but also on security, geopolitical competition, democratic decline, and global inequalities.
The world is evolving into an increasingly polarized structure. The US-China rivalry, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and instability in the Middle East are transforming the economy into an arena driven more by geopolitical calculations than by classic market dynamics. Areas such as energy security, food supply, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence are considered not only economic but also strategic power elements.
The US military intervention in Venezuela in January 2026 and the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro sparked widespread debate from an international law perspective. While many governments described this intervention as a violation of sovereignty, the US administration defended it on the grounds of “national security.” This situation has reinforced concerns that world politics is no longer determined by international norms, but by direct power politics.
However, the renewed diplomatic tension over Greenland shows that global actors are prioritizing their own interests over the interests of the world. The US’s tendency to seize Greenland, an autonomous region of Denmark, on “strategic” grounds, and the strong rebukes that followed are raising questions about Europe’s security policy and transatlantic relations. While Greenland’s local leaders emphasize the message “we are not for sale,” European countries are trying to send a message of unity against such initiatives. Germany’s search for new partners is noteworthy.
The effects of this transformation on academia are becoming increasingly visible. On the one hand, universities are becoming increasingly dependent on states’ security priorities and corporations’ profit expectations; on the other hand, the space for critical thinking, independent research, and academic freedom is shrinking. Social sciences, human rights, democracy, and migration studies are either losing funding or facing political pressure in many countries.
Universities are becoming increasingly unsafe spaces for academics, particularly in countries experiencing rising authoritarianism. As a result, forced academic migration, academic exile, and fragile integration processes are becoming more common. This is not merely an individual human rights issue; it is also a structural problem threatening the quality and diversity of global knowledge production.
The discourse on artificial intelligence and digitalization, frequently emphasized in Davos, also has a dual character for universities. While offering the potential to increase scientific productivity, it also carries the risk of transforming academia into an R&D extension of large technology companies. The commercialization of knowledge makes discussions about ethical responsibility and public benefit even more urgent.
In this context, the importance of academic solidarity networks is greater than ever. Initiatives like Academic Solidarity not only provide support to exiled academics but also create alternative public spaces that defend the independence of knowledge, academic freedom, and universal values. In a period of increasing global uncertainty, reminding universities of their social responsibility and strengthening cross-border academic solidarity are not only ethical choices but also historical necessities.
https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026/
https://decode39.com/13228/italy-and-germany-double-down-on-competitiveness-and-defense-at-rome-summit/
https://www.deutschland.de/en/news/germany-and-india-seek-to-deepen-their-relationship