The 37th G8 summit was held on 26–27 May 2011 in Deauville, France.Présidence française du G20 et du G8, Dossier de presse,p. 27 ; excerpt, Le sommet du G8 aura lieu les 26 et 27 mai à Deauville (The G8 summit will take place on May, 26th and 27th in Deauville); "Le prochain G20 aura lieu à Cannes," Le point (France). 12 November 2010; retrieved 13 February 2011
Previous G8 summits have been hosted by France in locations which include Rambouillet (1975); Versailles (1982); Grande Arche, Paris (1989); Lyon (1996); and Évian-les-Bains (2003). G20/G8 France 2011 official site, What is G8? ; retrieved 13 February 2011
Overview
The Group of Six (G6) was an unofficial forum which brought together the heads of the richest industrialized countries: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States starting in 1976. The Group of Seven (G7), meeting for the first time in 1979, was formed with the addition of Canada. Hence, The Group of Eight (G8), meeting for the first time in 1997, was formed with the addition of Russia.Parliament (UK), "G20 rises, G7 & G8 fall?"; see G8 + G20 + BRICs represented in relational graphic at bottom of page; retrieved 13 February 2011 In addition, the President of the European Commission has been formally included in summits since 1981. "Factbox: The Group of Eight: what is it?" Reuters (UK), 3 July 2008; retrieved 13 February 2011 The summits were not meant to be linked formally with wider international institutions; and in fact, a mild rebellion against the stiff formality of other international meetings was a part of the genesis of cooperation between France's president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and West Germany's chancellor Helmut Schmidt as they conceived the initial summit of the Group of Six (G6) in 1975.Reinalda, Bob and Bertjan Verbeek. (1998). Autonomous Policy Making by International Organizations, p. 205.
The G8 summits have inspired widespread debates, protests and demonstrations; and the two- or three-day event becomes more than the sum of its parts, elevating the participants, the issues and the venue as focal points for activist pressure."Influencing Policy on International Development: G8," BOND (British Overseas NGOs for Development). 2008; retrieved 13 February 2011
The form and functions of the G8 were reevaluated as the G20 summits evolved into the premier forum for discussing, planning and monitoring international economic cooperation.Parliament (UK): Townsend, Ian. "G20 & the November 2010 Seoul summit" (SN/EP/5028) , 19 October 2010; excerpt, "Today, we designated the G-20 as the premier forum for our international economic cooperation" citing "Pittsburgh G20 Leaders’ summit communiqué," 25 September 2009, paragraph 50. The "new G8" is refocusing on the subjects of common interest to the G8 countries, including geopolitical and security issues.
The forum continues to be in a process of transformation.Congressional Record Service, R40977: Nelson, Rebecca M. "Implications of the transition from G-7 to G20," pp. 22–26. The G-20 and International Economic Cooperation: Background and Implications for Congress, 9 December 2009; retrieved 13 February 2011
Leaders at the summit The G8 is an unofficial annual forum for the leaders of Canada, the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The 37th G8 summit was the last summit for French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Dmitry Medvedev as President of Russia (Medvedev would return to the 38th G8 summit the following year as Prime Minister of Russia, leading Russian delegates in place for the newly elected President Vladimir Putin).
Participants
These summit participants represent the current core members of the international forum:Rieffel, Lex. "Regional Voices in Global Governance: Looking to 2010 (Part IV)," Brookings (US). 27 March 2009; retrieved 13 February 2011"G8 highlights euro debt risk to world economy," Independent (UK). 26 May 2011; retrieved 26 May 2011.Wintour, Patrick. "G8 summit: UK offers Egypt and Tunisia £110m to Boost Democracy,: Guardian (UK). 26 May 2011; retrieved 26 May 2011.Brost, Marc and Jörg Lau. "Ab in die Ecke," Die Zeit (Germany). 26 Mai 2011; retrieved 26 May 2011 "Deauville, Berlusconi a Obama: da noi dittatura dei giudici di sinistra," Corriere della Sera (Italy). 27 May 2011; retrieved 27 May 2011Tang Danlu. "EU leaders meet press before G8 summit," Xinhua (PRC). 27 May 2011; retrieved 27 May 2011 "AU demands end to NATO Libya strikes," Agence France Presse (AFP), 26 May 2011; retrieved 26 May 2011Bejot, Jean-Pierre. "Les bons élèves de la « démocratie » africaine invités au bord de la mer par Nicolas Sarkozy," La Dépêche Diplomatique Afrique (Senegal). 25 May 2011; retrieved 27 May 2011MacCormaic, Ruadhán. "G8 summit set to approve aid package for Tunisia and Egypt," Irish Times (Eire). 26 May 2011; retrieved 27 May 2011Babalola, Jide. "Ki-Moon in Nigeria to push health campaign," The Nation (Nigeria). 23 May 2011; 27 May 2011
Core G8 membersHost state and leader are shown in bold text. Member Represented by Title Canada Stephen Harper Prime Minister France Nicolas Sarkozy President Germany Angela Merkel Chancellor Italy Silvio Berlusconi Prime Minister Japan Naoto Kan Prime Minister Russia Dmitry Medvedev President United Kingdom David Cameron Prime Minister United States Barack Obama President European Union José Manuel Barroso Commission President Herman Van Rompuy Council PresidentGuest Invitees (Countries) Member Represented by Title Algeria Abdelaziz Bouteflika President Côte d'Ivoire Alassane Ouattara President Egypt Essam Sharaf Prime Minister Ethiopia Meles Zenawi Prime Minister Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo President Guinea Alpha Conde President Niger Mahamadou Issoufou President Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan President Senegal Abdoulaye Wade President South Africa Jacob Zuma President Tunisia Beji Caid Essebsi Prime MinisterGuest Invitees (International Institutions) Member Represented by Title African Union Jean Ping Chairperson New Partnership for Africa's Development Arab League Amr Moussa Secretary-General International Monetary Fund John Lipsky managing director United Nations Ban Ki-moon Secretary-General World Bank Group Robert Zoellick President
Priorities Traditionally, the host country of the G8 summit sets the agenda for negotiations, but world events caused the list of topics to expand, including such issues such as the Fukushima nuclear accident,Jessop-Kolesnikov, Sonia. "As G-8 Meets, Asian Leaders Seek a Bigger Role," New York Times (US). 25 May 2011; retrieved 26 May 2011. the European sovereign debt crisis,Erlanger, Steven and Liz Alderman. "Euro Crisis Looms for Group of 8," New York Times (US). 25 May 2011; retrieved 26 May 2011. the conflict in Libya, Iran's nuclear programme, Syria's crackdown on pro-democracy protests, and the selection of a new managing director for the International Monetary Fund.MacCormaic, Ruadhán. "G8 summit set to approve aid package for Tunisia and Egypt," Irish Times
Issues The summit is a venue for resolving differences among its members. As a practical matter, the summit was also conceived as an opportunity for its members to give each other mutual encouragement in the face of difficult economic decisions. The G8 has become a forum for political and strategic discussions, and as a caucus within the G20.Jessop-Kolesnikov, "As G-8 Meets"; excerpt, According to Tommy Koh of Singapore, "the 2008 global financial crisis showed that a body that more accurately reflected the weight of emerging economies was needed to help steer the world out of that crisis .... G-20 has thus supplanted the G-8 as the main body for global financial and economic cooperation [and] the G-8 still remains as a forum for political and strategic discussions, and as a caucus within the G-20"; retrieved 26 May 2011
Schedule and Agenda The agenda for the summit included some issues which remained unresolved from previous summits.Kaur, Hardev. "G20 leaders must deliver on their promises," The New Straits Times (Malaysia). 20 February 2009. French general priorities included: New common challenges: the Internet, innovation, green growth and a sustainable economy, and nuclear safetyG20/G8 France 2011, "The priorities of the French Presidency" The 'Arab Springs': a partnership for democracy Strengthening the partnership with Africa: a long-term vision Peace and security: traditional themes of the G8
Some of the specific topics on the agenda were: Afghanistan;G20/G8 France 2011, Afghanistan ; retrieved 13 February 2011 G8 + Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA);Karabell, Zachary. "On the Heels of Revolution, Economic Realities Arrive," New York Times (US). 25 May 2011; G20/G8 France 2011, "G8 + BMENA" ; retrieved 13 February 2011 The Internet: new challengesG20/G8 France 2011, Internet challenges ; retrieved 13 February 2011 Non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass DestructionG20/G8 France 2011, Non-proliferation/WMDs; retrieved 13 February 2011 The G8's Partnership with AfricaG20/G8 France 2011, G8 + Partnership with Africa; retrieved 13 February 2011 Transatlantic Cocaine TraffickingG20/G8 France 2011, Cocaine trafficking ; retrieved 13 February 2011 Counter-terrorismG20/G8 France 2011, Counter-terrorism ; retrieved 13 February 2011 G8 political and security issuesG20/G8 France 2011, Political and security issues ; retrieved 13 February 2011
Citizens' responses and authorities' counter-responses
Protest groups and other activists were expected to make a showing at the summit.Crispian Balmer and Kevin Liffey. "Q+A: Election defeat poses problems for Sarkozy," Reuters (UK). 21 March 2010; retrieved 13 February 2011 The slogan G8 dégage ("G8 Go Away") was a recurring element of the demonstrations.Haddadi, Anissa. "Obama in Deauville tomorrow: Farewell to the UK and Hello anti G8 Protesters," International Business Times (UK). 25 May 2011; retrieved 27 May 2011
Protesters expressed their concerns about capitalism and what they perceive as the imperialism of western liberal democracies. The demonstrators are widely understood to be against globalisation.
Accomplishments This annual gathering of international leaders is an international event which is observed and reported by news media; and the G8's relevance and accomplishments are continuing topics of discussion.MacCormaic, "G8 summit set to approve aid package," Irish Times; Lee, Don. "On eve of summit, G-8's relevance is unclear," Los Angeles Times (US). 6 July 2008; retrieved 27 May 2011 The event brings leaders together not so they can dream up quick fixes, but to talk and think about them together.Feldman, Adam. "What's Wrong With The G-8," Forbes (US). 7 July 2008.
The 2011 summit meeting was marked by what the G8 called the "Deauville Partnership" with the people of North Africa.Zhang Xiang. "G8 leaders wrap up summit, pledge billions of dollars for new partnership with Arab," Xinhua (PRC). 27 May 2011; retrieved 27 May 2011 As a start, $20 billion were pledged in support for Tunisian and Egyptian reforms due to the Arab Spring.Wintour, Patrick. "G8 summit to pledge £12bn for Arab spring states," Guardian (UK). 27 May, 2011; [https://web.archive.org/web/20110530010615/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43190972/ns/world_news/ "G-8 leaders back Arab Spring revolts," MSNBC (US). 27 May 2011; retrieved 27 May 2011
Security
Security planning was designed to ensure that the summit's formal agenda can remain the primary focus of the attendees' discussions;Schuetze, Christopher A. "A French Town's Bright Shine Belies Its Size," New York Times (US). 25 May 2011; retrieved 26 May 2011. but effectively this meant converting the seaside resort into a fortress for the G8. "Deauville transformé en forteresse pour le G8 des 26 et 27 mai,"
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