This post is the introduction speech of Mariano Aguirre at the Seminar “Emerging Powers in the 21st Century” that took place in Oslo, Norway, 4 April 2011. This seminar is focussed on analyzing aspects of the international system’s new configurations, in particular how the rising power of some of the so-called Southern countries are affecting the fields of global governance, multilateralism, South-South cooperation, humanitarianism, and how regional leaderships can play important roles in mediation, reconciliation and peacebuilding.

International missions that aim to support stability, peace- and state-building in crisis areas are often unsure of how to move forward. The idea is gaining ground that a ‘revisioning’ of such interventions is needed. Hybrid is the new buzzword.