ITIC Global 2025 | Keynote speaker: Jeremy Bowen

The ITIJ team are reporting from ITIC Global in Venice this week (2–6 November 2025), sharing the discussions that take place at the conference. Read all reports

Giving ITIC Global attendees insights into how the world has changed and is always evolving, Jeremy Bowen said that, sadly, his skills as a war reporter seem to be more in need than they have ever been in the past 20 years. The world right now, he said, is changing very fast and in ways that are hard to predict. “We have to discard the presumptions we have all had about stability and the state of the democratic system as we currently understand [it],” he warned.

Looking at where the power lies in different governments, Bowen pointed out the influence of the wealthiest few people in the world, such as those who attended the inauguration of President Trump. Leaders and business people around the world now are part of a new and powerful international ruling class. Considering why these leaders are seemingly gaining ground and influence, Bowen pointed out that democracy is not delivering on its traditional promise that the next generation will be better off than we are.

These new leaders are rule-breakers – not always interested in adhering to the ways that states, governments, and economies traditionally function. They have realised that the old system is weak – maybe broken in their eyes – and as a result, the world is changing rapidly and dramatically.

“We see this in how conflicts are happening and being carried out,” said Bowen. “Traditionally, a system of rules has been observed during a conflict, such as provision of humanitarian relief, but now these rules are not being followed. The war in Gaza is just one example of where these rules have been broken.”

Bowen told attendees that “a measure of the success or failure of democracy is to consider what happens when a government is criticised”. Consider, he said, what is happening in the US right now with the censorship of people who have offended the Trump administration or the President himself.

We have to accept that the world has changed in such a way that makes the future an uncertain place

And yet, Trump’s unpredictability can work in different ways – such as in Gaza, where he essentially “forced” a ceasefire on Israel. Traditional diplomacy is not working – as far as the US is concerned – in the current world. While the US typically wouldn’t put pressure on Israel, following its failed attack in Doha, Trump’s policy changed. But will this approach work elsewhere, such as in Sudan? Bowen asked. Trump doesn’t have the same business interest in the region, but instability there can still have far-reaching economic effects.

Thinking about global risks, Bowen posed the question of “should we be concerned about China taking over Taiwan, whether violently or by more subtle means?” How America would respond to aggression from China towards Taiwan would be interesting, he said. How much of a risk would the US take to prevent annexation? Probably not too much, Bowen believes. It is more likely a deal would be struck.

Moving from Chinese to European risks, Bowen said that Zelensky and Trump’s volatile relationship was of great importance, because preventing Putin from succeeding in Ukraine is vital to preventing huge change for Europe. In Europe, the closer you are to Russia, the more seriously you take them as a threat. Poland and Germany, he said, are both rearming to enhance their preparedness and security. Bowen said he believes Russia is a threat – the UK has very little air defence, he added, and its military is depleted. With his rule-breaking tendencies, the question has to be asked: “Would Trump adhere to traditional Allied policies and come to Europe’s defence should Russia make an aggressive move?”

In conclusion, Bowen told the ITIC audience: “We have to accept that the world has changed in such a way that makes the future an uncertain place.”