GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

Spring 2010

by Wolfgang Ischinger

With the change from G8 to G20, global governance has been given a new face. At long last, the forum of the world’s biggest economies more fully represents all parts of the globe. But global governance is more than that.

In the first place, G20 decisions must be implemented coherently by all participating states. Second, global governance refers to all realms of international politics – economics, welfare and security – so international cooperation is even more essential where these policy areas overlap. Third, to be successful global governance requires a fundamental reform of the present international institutions, with the International Monetary Fund’s voting rights an example of reform that is long overdue.

We will also have to discuss how to re-design the United Nations if we want to meet the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. And finally, global governance will always have an informal element; without private consultations beforehand, official decisions by institutionalised bodies will be difficult to reach. Fora like the Munich Security Conference can help to find common ground on how to meet these challenges, and contribute to enhancing conflict prevention and conflict management.

 

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Kemal Dervis	G20 should increase the legitimacy of the international institutions
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William Drozdiak	An alternative is regional institutions to act in the service of global governance
Monica Frassoni	The only global governance model that would work is federal
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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
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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
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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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