Paris: The New Switzerland
Wharton alumni and leaders shared insights at the Asia Society France Summer Summit in Paris.
“We designed Paris as a place to transcend binaries — beyond ‘hawk’ or ‘dove,’ beyond capital-to-capital talking points. China’s decisions now shape supply chains, tech standards, and climate outcomes worldwide. You need a room where that complexity can be explored with rigor — and without theatrics.”
— Duncan Clark, founding trustee and co-chair of Asia Society France
In Liu Cixin’s Three-Body Problem, survival hinges on navigating a system pulled by three forces simultaneously. Today, the geopolitical three forces are the United States, China, and the European Union. While Europe cannot compete with Washington or Beijing in hard power, Paris has become a neutral ground, a forum where rivals exchange ideas away from the spotlight of capital politics.
This summer’s Asia Society Summer Summit in Paris demonstrated this role clearly, offering a space to engage complex global challenges thoughtfully and without theatrics.
Author’s summary: Paris is emerging as a neutral hub where major global powers engage thoughtfully on complex issues, beyond traditional political binaries.