How the world has changed in 25 years: Annual report 2021
Our 2021 annual report starts with an essay by me on how the world has changed in the 25 years since we established the CER. When we were born, a spirit of optimism filled the air. The EU was integrating politically, creating its own currency and extending its frontiers. Britain was influential in Europe and the US was a reliable anchor for the West. Political and economic liberalism seemed to be gradually spreading across the world.
We now live in much darker times. Democracy appears to be in retreat, the big authoritarian countries act with increasing self-confidence and the West is on the defensive. The essay looks at ten ways in which the world has changed in a quarter of a century. But it concludes by arguing that the future need not be all doom and gloom.
A second article focuses on the highlights of our work in 2021. As usual, we were busy with subjects like European foreign policy, economics and of course Brexit. But in 2021 we greatly expanded our coverage of climate, technology and the rule of law. As we prepare for our second quarter-century, the subjects we work on will surely continue to evolve. What will not change is our working method, focused on sober, rigorous and realistic analysis, combined with constructive proposals for reform.
Centre for European Reform
