ABSTRACT
The institutional review was a real innovation for the G7 heads of government. In fact, by turning their attention to other international bodies, the G7 leaders started to generate the renewal of their own institution. This renewal of the summit was not completed during the fifth series and continued during the sixth which began with Birmingham in 1998. The political shifts and realignments which began at the end of the fourth summit series gathered pace in 1994-1997. The political balance of the group had moved further to the left and the newcomers were ready for innovation in the summit process. Absorbing the Russians, whatever its political benefits, greatly complicated the summit process and its reform. The Naples summit of 1994 launched the summit review of international institutions. The summits also recognised, more gradually, the stimulus for the review provided by globalisation.
