Are global governance institutions and regimes the best possible solution to global problems?

Global governance definition 1:

“The loose framework of global regulation … that constrains conduct, international organisations and law; transnational organisations organisations and frameworks; and shared principles”
Baylis, Smith and Owens 2023

Global governance definition 2:

“The sum of the informal and formal ideas, values, norms, procedures, and institutions that help all actors”

Weiss and Wilkinson 2014

Two reasons against:

1. Unequal balance of power

2. Democratic deficit

Two reasons for:

1. Increasing multilateralism

2. Necessary due to globalisation

Overall conclusion?

GGs need improvement, but there is no better alternative for the solution of global problems therefore they are the best option possible

P1: unequal balance of power?

CONSERVATIVE / PROGRESSIVE

• GGs are an extension of Western power and therefore can only effectively serve the West

• Lacking in democracy as they were created with the intent and run to serve a minority of the global population

• E.g UN Security Council permanent members are all WW2 victors

• Could lead to bias in the treatment of states - e.g developing countries are expected to develop ‘cleanly’ but this was never a requirement for the West who created the issue of pollution

• Primarily liberal policy approach

P2: Rising multilateralism?

• More institutions are emerging that are not focussed on the West

• Multipolarity is on the rise, with many non-Western states on the way to becoming global superpowers

• This allows them to set up regional groups that are better suited to their needs, as well as giving more influence in global organisations

• E.g African Development Bank - initially African states only, has now opened membership to rest of world but these states have a reduced influence

• E.g ASEAN for south east Asia

P2: Rising multilateralism ADB citation?

Has the “least Western hegemonic involvement” of all multilateral development banks (Ben-Artizi, 2016)

P3: Democratic deficit?

CONSERVATIVE / PROGRESSIVE

• GG organisations take too much control over issues that should be left to individual states to deal with, which creates a democratic deficit

• State sovereignty and autonomy is reduced, stops states solving issues that directly impact them

• Could cause long-term problems, as well increasing electoral dissatisfaction

• E.g UK votes to leave EU 2016, one reason for Leave campaign was that there were few reciprocal benefits for UK membership

• Lack of elections for regional parliaments - sense of disconnect

P4: globalisation?

• GGs are necessary to combat the wide range of issues globalisation generates as the world becomes increasingly interdependent

• Environmental, economic and immigration related issues are only worsening as globalisation continues and must be tackled collaboratively. One state acting alone will have little effect

• As more transnational corporations emerge, it is important that government regulatory bodies evolve to best protect workers and consumers

P4: globalisation definition?

global closeness, interdependence and connectivity resulting in a “time-space compression”

McGrew 1989

P5: no better alternative?

REFORMIST LIBERAL

• GGs are the best possible existing solution, but there are not enough of them and they need to focus on a wider range of policy areas

• Deficit in global government - not enough is done

• GGs can be overshadowed by state politics or restricted by states that do not cooperate so they can’t act effectively

• E.g January 2025 Trump signs executive orders withdrawing the US from the WHO and Paris Agreement, reducing funding/legitimacy/power. Trump ‘America first’ policy neglects global concerns

• GGs lack legitimacy - undemocratic and unrepresentative - but this can be improved

• Alternative is no cooperation at all - unlikely to benefit anyone. E.g GGs have been proven to be effective in the past - COVID response