The political and business elite will attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos next week, at a time when its vision of the global economic order is being tested to the limit.
US President Donald Trump's expected appearance at a Swiss mountain resort will almost certainly highlight the gap between his agenda and the WEF's approach.
His "America First" policy has led to the use of tariffs as punishment for bad behavior, military intervention in Venezuela, threats to take Greenland by force, and the withdrawal of the United States from various international organizations.
The Trump administration has also threatened Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell with criminal charges, prompting many leading central bank governors to issue statements defending him and the central bank's independence.
Calling the 56th edition "The Spirit of Dialogue," WEF leaders say that, given the current uncertainty, coming together is crucial to chart a path forward in politics and business.
"Dialogue is not a luxury, it is a necessity," said WEF President and CEO Borge Brende, a former Norwegian minister.
But others say that, as the US and China leverage power to serve national interests, the WEF risks becoming obsolete.
"Who will advocate for a rules-based international order?" asked Daniel Walker, a former Swiss ambassador and foreign relations expert.
"To be very honest, in a system where everyone looks out for themselves, there is no reason to exist. It is an event from the past," he said.
Observers are also curious about whether the Davos forum has lost momentum since its 87-year-old founder Klaus Schwab stepped down as president in April.
The Geneva-based organization announced in August that an internal investigation had found no evidence of Schwab's material crimes, after they were alleged in a whistleblower's letter.
She appointed BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Roche Vice President Andre Hofmann as interim co-chairs.
There is a lot to discuss at this year's forum, Reuters points out, from how to deal with Trump's version of the Monroe Doctrine, which establishes American dominance in the Western Hemisphere, to the ways in which artificial intelligence is changing the world.
The Davos summit is taking place just over a month after one of Switzerland's worst modern tragedies, a fire in a bar in the Crans Montana ski resort that killed 40 people.
Several European leaders are expected to arrive in Davos and will be scrutinized for their response to challenges posed by America, including Trump's threats to seize Greenland and attacks on European efforts to regulate American technology companies.
One of the significant topics of this year's WEF meeting will be the participation of oil industry leaders who are eager to hear Trump promote his agenda that encourages drilling for more oil and gas, while rejecting alternatives such as wind and solar, reports Hina.
The CEOs of ExxonMobil, Shell, Total Energy, Equinor and ENI are expected to attend, after much more sporadic attendances in recent years when oil players viewed Davos as a forum opposing fossil fuels.
It remains to be seen whether China, which has sent high-ranking officials in recent years, will have a more significant presence at Davos.
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