The Global Cooperation Barometer 2026

The views of experts and executives on cooperation Perceptions of global cooperation BOX 1 To gain insight into how developments over the past year impact the perception of cooperation, this year’s Global Cooperation Barometer report includes the results of two surveys – one of about 800 executives and one of approximately 170 experts who are current or former members of the World Economic Forum’s Network of Global Future Councils. Council members broadly perceive global cooperation across each pillar is waning, with 85% describing the state of global cooperation in 2025 as “less cooperative” or “much less cooperative”, compared to 2024. The perception of deterioration in cooperation was particularly large in the case of trade and capital and innovation and technology. When asked about how changes in cooperation affect their businesses, the sample of executives also, on average, had a negative sentiment, with more executives saying it became harder to do business across borders than easier. In this case, however, peace and security was identified as the challenge that had worsened the most. Notably, across each of these pillars – with a notable exception of issues of peace and security – executives still see opportunity for cooperation in the current state, and 57% of them do not perceive overall conditions to have worsened relative to 2024. 2025 survey results – Forum council members and executives How would you describe the state of global cooperation in each of the following areas in 2025 compared to 2024?Surveyed Forum council members1 Net sentiment score (positive minus negative answers); percentage points (pp)How has your company's ability to conduct business been affected, if at all, by changes in global cooperation in 2025 compared to 2024 in each of the following areas?Surveyed executives1 Much easier Somewhat easier Neither easier nor more difficult Don’t know Somewhat more difficult Much more difficult-36 Overall Trade and capital2 Innovation and technology Climate and natural capital Health and wellness Peace and security-30 -11 -12 -8 -306% 37% 6% 44% 7% 32% 6% 45% 9% 4% 25% 5% 48% 15% 4% 6% 23% 6% 48% 13% 4% 5% 14% 12% 57% 10% 7% 35% 4% 40% 10%-75 Much more cooperative More cooperative Stayed the same Less cooperative Much less cooperativeOverall Trade and capital Innovation and technology Climate and natural capital Health and wellness Peace and security-75 -79 -44 -62 -3030% 55% 7% 8% 30% 55% 7% 8% 39% 48% 8% 5% 10% 51% 22% 16% 33% 38% 22% 16% 31% 38% 14%1% 1%1% 1% 1% 6% 1% 1% 6% 1% 2% 3% 1. Percentages indicate share of responses by category. 2. Weighted average of “trade”, “corporate cross-border investment”, “talent mobility”. Sources: August 2025 Global Councils Survey, N=171 (finished responses); August 2025 Executive Survey N=799. The Global Cooperation Barometer 2026 10