‘The Doom Loop’ and the future of the global order

Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. EST
Location: The Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Global economic power is shifting as liberal, market-oriented democracies confront rising domestic turmoil and a fraying global trade and financial system. Forces once seen as engines of shared prosperity have deepened inequality, fueled political backlash, and intensified economic nationalism. At the same time, institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization have struggled to adapt, while middle power countries like India, Brazil, and Indonesia face growing pressure to choose sides amid intensifying U.S.-China competition. These dynamics have locked economics, domestic politics, and geopolitics into a destabilizing feedback loop—a doom loop.

On Wednesday, February 11, Brookings will host a panel discussion marking the launch of “The Doom Loop: Why the World Economic Order is Spiraling into Disorder.” In his new book, “The Doom Loop,” Brookings Senior Fellow Eswar Prasad traces how the global order reached this breaking point and outlines innovative pathways toward a more inclusive and resilient future. While disorder may define the current moment, Prasad argues that a better outcome remains possible—one that requires moving beyond outdated solutions to confront today’s interconnected challenges and promote prosperity for all. The event will feature an overview of the book’s main themes from Prasad, followed by a panel discussion with leading experts on the economic, political, and geopolitical dynamics shaping the global order.