Rethinking "Eurasia Global"

In recent years, organizers of youth events in Russia have recognized a crisis in the formats of international communication among young people, with limited avenues for discussing the current youth agenda. This year, the organizers of Eurasia Global have revamped the main program, placing significant emphasis on a business game that immerses participants in a multipolar world.

Business Program: A Grand Game

Forum participants were divided into several fictitious countries, where the economy and political situations could only randomly coincide with real-world counterparts. However, the cases and issues participants tackled mirrored real scenarios from modern history. The structure allows teams (countries) to grasp how global governance is constructed, engage in decision-making, and observe the outcomes of their actions.

Each country's team is responsible for specific areas: media, politics, economics and production, development projects, youth leadership, and human capital. These nations vie for global leadership, and the world they inhabit evolves daily based on participants' decisions.

Educational Program: Multifaceted Choices

One unique aspect of the forum is the simultaneous occurrence of multiple sessions. Via a dedicated app for Eurasia Global, participants can select the business program segments that align best with their goals and objectives. The elective sections focus on international agendas and challenges faced by states and the world. Discussions revolve around topics such as the major trends of the EAEU in 2023, forthcoming developments in 2024, international relations trends, and local-global communication within the context of political confrontation.

Guests of the Eurasia Global forum not only participate in the business game and discussions but also engage in an extensive educational program. Experts from various countries deliver master classes and lectures on diverse subjects including cybersecurity, international communication, culinary arts, and much more.

Another distinctive aspect is the robust support from partners who are actively involved in the program.

Program for Children

A significant highlight of the forum is its collaboration with the Movement of the First. A designated children's area, intricately woven into the gaming reality of the participating countries, addresses the development of these gaming states while shedding light on childhood issues on an international scale.

Interethnic dialogue remains a tradition: during the "International Agenda for a Happy Childhood" meeting, participants tackled contemporary challenges faced by children. Cultural manager Hans-Joachim Frey from Germany and Russia, spoke at the event, expressing his positive sentiments about our country and its culture. The discussion also featured Elena Ilyina, the chairperson of the Council of the regional branch of the Russian movement "Movement of the First" in the Orenburg region. A pressing challenge identified during the meeting was children's social withdrawal. Addressing this, it was stressed that adults—parents, teachers, and others—play a crucial role in creating a nurturing environment that encourages children to expand their boundaries, overcome fears, and develop effective communication skills.

"Book to a Friend" Initiative

The All-Russian initiative "Book to a Friend" is a part of the Eurasia Global forum. Participants aim to donate books to children from the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. This initiative has garnered support from representatives of Italy, Africa, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. Additionally, significant events include the signing of international cooperation agreements between the RDDM "Movement of the First" and representatives from Italy, Malaysia, and African countries. Organizers hold high hopes that these agreements will pave the way for a transition from a unipolar to a multipolar world.

Exploring Cultures and the Global Realm

On August 24, Eurasia Global hosted a meeting of delegation leaders—a presentation of the Immortal Regiment movement and its projects. Participants highlighted project implementation specifics in their respective countries and discussed prospects for cooperation between delegations. Mher Avetisyan (Armenia), the general coordinator of the Immortal Regiment international movement, delivered a speech.

Furthermore, a discussion titled "Greater Eurasia and Russia's Place in It" also took place on the forum's premises.

Gorchakov Foundation representatives, along with members from the Youth Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Center for the Indian Ocean Region IMEMO at EAT Primakov Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia), as well as representatives from other international organizations, gathered to discuss Russia's position in the modern world. The experts discussed potential partner countries for Russia in the upcoming years, emphasized the broadening economic and social ties with Africa, and highlighted the influence of minerals on the global landscape.

In 2024, Russia is set to host the World Youth Festival, an event that has already become an integral part of the Eurasia Global program. Participants familiarize themselves with the festival's agenda and its values. Additionally, products for the festival program are being prepared, including the "Declaration of a Multipolar World" and "35 Questions up to 35."

Key Insights

Each forum day concludes with a "Meeting of the Day," where several experts address participants on socially relevant topics and subsequently respond to questions. Forum themes encompassed significant subjects such as "What It Means to be Russian" and "Brave New World." For instance, during the meeting titled "Open History Lesson: From the Past to the Future," Anatoly Wasserman discussed the world's multipolarity, his perspective on Western media propaganda, and shared what "Eurasia Global" signifies to him:

"For me, Eurasia Global offers an incredibly valuable format of interaction. Unfortunately, much of today's global challenges stem from the substitution of interaction with unilateral actions. This often proves destructive for one party. Eurasia Global, on the other hand, offers a platform for mutually beneficial and genuinely engaging interactions."

Notable guests at the meeting included Timothy Dennis Kerby, a columnist for Russia Today; Snape Mahil, a travel blogger known as the most Russian American and Dutchman in Russia; and Ilya Vasiliev, the producer of the film "Nuremberg." These individuals are authors of engaging blogs with a substantial following.

Every forum day brimmed with significant events and pivotal insights. Participants grasped the significance of international cooperation, dialogue, and tolerance, realizing the potential global repercussions of individual decisions and actions. The forum demonstrated that young people can actively engage in the global process and contribute to solving worldwide challenges.

Overall, the reimagined Eurasia Global has cultivated a more interactive and pragmatic platform for young individuals to exchange experiences and ideas. In just a few days, participants had the chance to enhance their leadership abilities, gain insights into international processes, and establish lasting connections with fellow participants.