G8s

G8s is an informal designation that is sometimes used to refer to the Group of Eight, a forum of major advanced economies that met annually to discuss global issues. The term is not official; most sources use G8 or, after 2014, G7. The group historically consisted of the seven largest advanced economies plus Russia, forming a context for high-level dialogue among peers.

History and membership: The G8 evolved from the G7, which originated in the 1970s as a forum for economic policy among leading industrial nations. Russia joined in 1997, creating the G8. The eight members were Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Russia; the European Union participated as an observer with a consultative role. In 2014, Russia’s participation was suspended by the other members following the annexation of Crimea, and the forum effectively returned to the G7 format, with the EU continuing to participate as a key partner.

Purpose and activities: The G8/G7 operated as an informal summit of heads of government and ministers, focusing on macroeconomic policy, trade, energy, climate change, security, development, and global health. In addition to the annual leaders’ summit, finance, foreign, and other ministers met to craft policy responses and coordinate international initiatives.

Criticism and relevance: The format has faced criticism for limited representation and deliberations among a relatively small group of advanced economies. With the rise of broader forums like the G20, some analysts view the G7/G8 as less central to global governance. The label G8s remains a nonofficial, colloquial reference used in some contexts.