ABSTRACT
This chapter offers a judgement on whether these changes have enabled the G8 to meet their objectives more successfully and whether the objectives themselves have changed. It argues that the first G8 sequence has revived and strengthened the summits' capacity for political leadership. The concept of collective management has been maintained and adapted, in spite of changes in the US attitude under Bush. In contrast, the summits' record in reconciling domestic and international pressures has not improved, but is rather getting worse. In addition, the summits have identified a fourth objective, which is integrating international economics and politics. Birmingham to Genoa The G8 summits of the sixth series showed a similar pattern to the mid-1990s. Africa, which has become the single most important issue for the G8, is not based on US initiative, though the Americans are deeply involved and recognise the contribution that helping Africa makes to the fight against terrorism.
