DRI Dialogues: Gareth Davies MP on Geofinance

Gareth Davies MP

Mark Kennedy

May 27, 2026

Conversation with Gareth Davies, British MP

NYU DRI Dialogues: Financial Power and Statecraft

Guest: Gareth Davies, British Member of Parliament

DRI Director Mark Kennedy sits down with Gareth Davies MP to discuss how financial power is a quantifiable form of state power, distinct from a nation’s GDP and military capacity. Mr. Davies contends that in an era of intense strategic competition, a nation’s financial system is now the primary terrain for contesting sovereign influence. By actively shaping their financial architecture, countries can exercise disproportionate power to structure international outcomes. He argues that a proactive and targeted development finance approach yields significant dividends for jobs and economic mobility, while strategic investment in infrastructure serves as a force multiplier to enhance a nation’s long-term economic fundamentals.

See the highlights here and watch the full conversation in the link above.

Gareth Davies MP
Gareth Davies MP

British MP for Grantham and Bourne

Mark Kennedy

Director