Former World Leaders Urge Renewed Global Cooperation

The appeal, supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, arrives alongside new polling data from Focaldata suggesting that public appetite for collective action persists despite rising nationalism. The survey, conducted across 34 countries, found that 57% of respondents support international collaboration even when it requires compromising domestic interests. More than 80% of participants agreed on the necessity of protecting human dignity and addressing collective security threats.

Former leaders, including Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom, Laura Chinchilla of Costa Rica, and Nigeria’s Olusegun Obasanjo, are championing the "Principles of Cooperation" initiative. This effort aims to bridge the divide between the Global North and South by establishing a framework that honors national sovereignty while acknowledging deep-seated global interdependence. The signatories intend to use their experience to advocate for these principles in international forums, urging current administrations to translate these concepts into tangible policy results rather than abstract diplomacy.