2014 marks the centenary of the outbreak of World War One and the bicentenary of the opening of the Congress of Vienna - two dates that profoundly shaped the course of history. While in 1814, towards the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the concerted powers of Europe were architects of a new international system, the leaders of 1914 have famously been described as sleepwalkers, stumbling into war.

Today we face complex interconnected challenges - from regional tensions in Ukraine, Syria, South Sudan and the South China Sea to global threats linked to climate change, growing inequality, and the legacy of the financial crisis. With instability rising as 2014 unfolds, how can a greater awareness of history help us deal with emerging threats and reduce the risk of future conflicts? What lessons from the past can help us restore public trust in the international system and the ability of leaders to deliver solutions? And what will future historians say about the leaders of today: were they architects or sleepwalkers?

To create positive narratives for the future and revitalize our commitment to building a global community, the International Peace Institute (IPI) and Salzburg Global Seminar - with generous support from Canada and Norway - brought leaders from politics, diplomacy, the military, and business together with historians, journalists, political scientists, philosophers, and writers from around the world. This unique conversation took place between 25 and 29 August at beautiful Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg, former home to Max Reinhardt, the founder of the Salzburg Festival.

The symposium combined a brief expert keynote addresses with open and informal discussions, complemented by a stimulating social program, including concerts and artistic talks.

At a time of rapid change and escalating tensions, this high-level meeting will provide leading figures from different walks of life with the time and space to reflect on the lessons of the past in order to shape an international system fit for purpose in the 21st century.