Global governance refers to the complex of institutions, mechanisms, relationships, and processes between and among states, markets, citizens, and organizations to articulate collective interests on the global plane, establish rights and obligations, and mediate differences.
(adapted from United Nations,
Definition of Basic Concepts and Terminologies in Governance and Public Administration, visited 2010-03-12)
"
Global governance is the system of rules and institutions established by the international community and private actors to manage political, economic and social affairs. Good governance, at both the national and global level, should further values such as freedom, security, diversity, fairness and solidarity. It should also ensure respect for human rights, international rule of law, democracy and participation, promote entrepreneurship and adhere to the principles of accountability, efficacy and subsidiarity."
(World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization,
A Fair Globalization, 2004, visited 2009-07-29)
The Need for Good Governance
"Increasing globalization has generated a need for better
global governance. The growth of interdependence among nation States has meant that a broader range of issues now affects more countries more strongly than ever before. The growing nexus of links between countries through trade, FDI [foreign direct investment] and capital flows means that changes in economic conditions or policies in major economies have strong spillover effects on the rest of the world. Similarly, new global rules also have a strong impact on the policy options and economic performance of countries. […] Poor governance is manifested in a host of interlocking problems that have appeared in varying combinations and degrees in different countries. Examples include dysfunctional States torn apart by civil strife, authoritarian governments of various hues, and States with democratic government but severe inadequacies in terms of the policies and institutions required to support a well-functioning market economy."
(World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization,
A Fair Globalization, 2004, visited 2009-07-29)
The Actors of Global Governance
In order to regulate certain international activities, many actors play an important role in
global governance by establishing rules, codes and norms. These actors include States, intergovernmental institutions, non-state actors, civil society actors and business corporations, among others.
"[A] triad of actors comprising (1) states and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) [such as the United Nations], (2)
market forces and (3) civil society actors play important roles in existing
international and evolving
global governance.
[...]
Whereas, in international governance, the addressees and the makers of norms and rules are states and other intergovernmental institutions, non-state actors [such as NGOs or business corporations] (in addition to states and intergovernmental institutions) are both the addressees and the makers of norms and rules in
global governance."
(Brühl, T. and V. Rittberger,
From International to Global Governance: Actors, Collective Decision-making, and the United Nations in the World of the Twenty-first Century, visited 2009-07-06)
The Structure and Dynamics of Global Governance
A feature of
global governance is the reconfiguration of authority between various layers of infrastructures of government, which is evident in the expanding jurisdictions of both superstate and substate institutions. Furthermore, contemporary
global governance is argued to involve a relocation of authority from public to quasi-public and private agencies, and governance beyond states is largely contingent on the policies and interests of the most powerful states, which, because of their relatively higher revenue, can exert pressure on other less wealthy countries.
(adapted from Jones, A.,
Dictionary of Globalization, Cambridge: Polity Press, 2006)