Over 200 People Join CIP Dialogues on the Risks of a Third World War

More than 200 people took part on Sunday, August 2, in another edition of Dialogues – CIP’s Cycle of Meetings, which brought together political scientist and geopolitics expert Heni Ozi Cukier and Rabbi Michel Schlesinger to discuss the geopolitical consequences of today’s major international conflicts. Under the theme “Third World War?”, the event analyzed the impacts of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the role of global powers, and the challenges to maintaining international order.

During the discussion, Heni Ozi Cukier offered a strategic reading of ongoing conflicts, arguing that the world is experiencing an escalation that could lead to a confrontation of global proportions. He noted that world wars do not begin as global conflicts but emerge from the convergence of regional disputes. Cukier highlighted the strengthening of the axis formed by Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea, the growing fragility of international mediation mechanisms, and the risks surrounding Taiwan, which he identified as one of the main flashpoints in the coming years.

Addressing the Middle East, Cukier stated that the October 7 attacks placed Israel in an unprecedented strategic dilemma. He argued that the goals of Hamas and Iran went beyond the massacre of civilians, aiming to undermine the very existence of the Israeli state. He also pointed to the erosion of U.S. political support for Israel, particularly amid the rise of isolationist and anti-Zionist currents in American politics—a shift he described as one of the most significant geopolitical changes since Israel’s founding.

Rabbi Michel Schlesinger guided the conversation with reflections on the human impact of conflicts and the importance of approaching the international context with responsibility and critical thinking. The debate also explored the limits of international law in the face of current crises, the rise of narrative warfare fueled by social media, and the challenges posed by growing antisemitism and polarization worldwide.

Regardless of which scenario materializes, understanding the geopolitical transformations underway is essential for societies and leaders to be better prepared to face the challenges of the future, Cukier warned at the close of the debate.

The Dialogues – CIP’s Cycle of Meetings was organized by the Congregação Israelita Paulista (CIP), with support from the Ministry of Culture through the Rouanet Law for Cultural Incentives, and sponsored by Itaú, Bemol, Rosset, Banco Safra, Tricostyl, Smart Storage, and Aurora.