GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

Spring 2010

by Monica Frassoni

The only model of global governance that would work in a world as complicated as that we live in is federal; a system with a clear definition of (very) limited competences, a common charter of human and civil rights, an executive branch and a widely representative institution that we might compare to a global parliament. In this way, the few decisions taken would be recognised by all concerned and a genuinely global “public opinion” would be able to form and express itself, using all the new instruments of global communication.

Is this just a dream? Certainly, but it’s also a political programme. Let’s face facts; in the UN, the WTO and even in the EU, "governance" is still mostly done through intergovernmental negotiations that are tragically slow, obscure, disappointing, expensive, time consuming and all too often unfair in their results.

What we have to go for is a real global democracy. And we must do so by acting at different levels; the EU must resume its discussions on its future shape, the UN must reform itself and those wanting to go further on climate change or disarmament should create an ambitious "coalition of the willing" whose members would agree to give up part of their national sovereignty to find common solutions. Failing these steps, there will be no chance of global governance, but only the present global confusion.

 

Further articles in this GLOBAL GOVERNANCE section
Pascal Lamy	Global Governance is a challenge for democracy (but an EU opportunity)
Iain Begg	Global governance could take a leaf from the EU's book
Leszek Balcerowicz	Worldwide reform means engaging public opinion first
Robert Hutchings	Why U.S.-EU economic co-operation holds the key to global governance
Paul Tucker	Ending boom and bust: The case for macroprudential instruments
The Europe's World panel on global governance
C. Fred Bergsten	The global crisis has accelerated governance reform
Daniel Daianu	G20 could turn into a global economic security body
Kemal Dervis	G20 should increase the legitimacy of the international institutions
Jirí Dienstbier	Nation states cannot meet the challenges of deregulated globalisation
William Drozdiak	An alternative is regional institutions to act in the service of global governance
Angel Gurría	G20 could give the momentum needed to usher in unprecedented international co-operation
Danuta Hübner	The dynamics of crisis have fundamentally altered the global financial system
Wolfgang Ischinger	We need fundamental reform of the international institutions
Sandra Kalniete	Global governance requires predictable and fair funding
Sergei A. Karaganov	Despite its decline, Europe will be a shining example of how the world should be governed
Kishore Mahbubani	Europe provides both the problem and the solution to reforming global governance
Reza Moghadam	We at the IMF have already begun the process of reconciling effectiveness and legitimacy
Jean Pisani-Ferry	After a brilliant start, global co-operation and governance may disappoint in the years ahead
Hans-Gert Pöttering	The European Parliament must play a central role if we want a democratic model of global governance
Jiang Shixue	China would never accept the idea of a G2
Danilo Türk	We need global institutions capable of making international co-operation inclusive
Guy Verhofstadt	Integration that transcends borders is the logical response to 21st century realities
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