Chapter 5

Contemporary Global
Governance
Definitions
• Governance
• the sum of many ways individuals and institution, both public and private,
manage their common affairs.
• The continuing process through which conflicting or diverse interest may be
accommodated and co – operative action taken.
• Example: formal institutions/regimes empowered to enforce compliance
• Global governance
• the way in which global affairs are managed today
• The sum of laws, norms, policies and institutions that define, constitute and
mediate relations between citizens, societies, markets and states in the
international system.
Importance of Contemporary Global
Governance
• It is essential for each nation to collaborate with one another as one
nation cannot and will not be able to address or solve many of the
world's problem such as terrorism, pandemics, and climate changes.
Features of Contemporary Global
Governance
• According to Biermann and Pattberg the following are the features of
contemporary Global Governance.
• The emergence of new types of agency and of actors in addition to
national governments.

• Example: Greenpeace(NGO), Shell and Google (MNC), European

Union (supranational Organization), Facebook, Twitter and TikTok
(Digital platforms)
Features of Contemporary Global
Governance
• Emergence of new mechanisms and institutions of global
governance that go beyond traditional forms of state – led, treaty -
based regimes.

• Example: the Paris Agreement (Climate Change), International

Criminal Court (ICC), World Economic Forum (WEF) and Davos.
Features of Contemporary Global
Governance
• Increasing segmentation and fragmentation of the overall
governance system across levels and functional sphere.

• Example: World Trade Organization (WTO), Cybersecurity Governance

like Google and Microsoft and Civil society organization like the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Doctors
Without Borders
Features of Contemporary Global
Governance
• The actors of global governances today widens the range of activities
in which they are involved and they also transform the patterns of
interaction and cooperation in confronting present – day issues on a
world-wide level.
The Roles and Functions of the
United Nations
• UN founded on October 24, 1945 predecessor to the League of
Nations (established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles but disbanded in
1946) based on its charter it aims to save succeeding generations from
• Maintain peace and security (especially in international level)
• Developing friendly relations among nations anchored on respect for the
principle of equal rights and self – determination of people
• Achieving global cooperation to resolve international economic, social, cultural
and humanitarian problems
• Respecting and promoting human rights
• Serving as a center where nations can coordinate their actions and activities
toward these mentioned ends
UN’s Role in Global Governance
• UN plays a vital role as an intellectual actor in global governance

• Managing Knowledge – UN is tasked with various specialized agencies

handle, organize, and disseminate knowledge, data, and information in order
to improve decision-making, drive policy, and support the achievement of its
goals, especially related to sustainable development, peace, human rights,
and humanitarian aid. Managing knowledge effectively is crucial for the UN to
address the complex, interconnected global challenges it faces.

• Example: data management in the increasing technology that helped in

progressing addressing the issues about climate change
UN’s Role in Global Governance
• Developing Norms - The United Nations plays a central role in the
development of international norms across a wide range of global
issues, from human rights and peace and security to sustainable
development and environmental protection. Norms, in this context,
refer to generally accepted standards, principles, or rules of behavior
that guide how countries, organizations, and individuals act in the
international system.

• Example: Human Rights Norms such as treaties and conventions of

nations, Peace Norms such as punishment for war crimes and genocide.
UN’s Role in Global Governance
• Promulgating Recommendations – once UN s norm start to change
and become prevalent, a succeeding step is to frame a range of
possibilities about how states and their citizens and IGO can change
conduct.

• Example UN’s Climate change Conference, World summit on

Sustainable development (2002), Paris Agreement on Climate Change
(2015)
UN’s Role in Global Governance
• Institutionalizing Ideas – UN provides platform from which to
challenge existing norms and received wisdom about the best
approaches to problem solving.

• Example: generalized system of preferences for less industrialized

countries – which was hardly an item on the conventional free trade
agenda and grew from both UN conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD)
Challenges of Global Governance in
the 21st Century
• Global governance in the 21st century is marked by complexity and
interconnectedness, requiring cooperation across national boundaries
and policy areas. The geopolitical rivalry, inequality, technological
challenges, and climate change crises make it increasingly difficult for
multilateral institutions like the UN to effectively manage global
problems.
Challenges of Global Governance in
the 21st Century
• The following are some of the challenges of Global governance in the
current century
• 1. Geopolitical tensions and Rivalries
• 2. Inequality and Global Disparities – income and wealth gap between
developing nations and 3rd world countries are one of the major challenges
global governance have been facing
• 3. Environmental crises
• 4. Technological advancement and Cybersecurity – due to rapid advancement
in technology it presents both opportunities and challenges that leads to
vulnerabilities and ethical dilemmas
Challenges of Global Governance in
the 21st Century
• The following are some of the challenges of Global governance in the
current century
• 5. Weakening Multilateralism – questioned relevance and effectiveness of
organizations such as WHO. Example about the Paris Climate Accord about
pollutions produced in 3rd world countries
• 6. Global Health Threats – the ability of nations to quickly respond global
health emergencies hampered by political tensions and inadequate funding
• 7. Migration and Refugee Crises – influx of migrants and refugee leads
tensions between supporting human rights and addressing political concern
about migration
Relevance of the State amid
Globalization
• State is defined as a nation or territory considered as an organized
political community under one government

• Territorial State - a political entity or sovereign state that exercises

control and authority over a defined geographic area or territory. This
territory is typically bordered by internationally recognized
boundaries, and the state claims full control over the resources,
governance, and laws within these boundaries.
Characteristics of Territorial State
1. Population
2. Defined territory
3. Sovereignty/Government
4. Capacity to enter relations with other nation/ Recognition

• Example: France as territorial state exercise within borders and is

recognized by other sovereign entity.
The Weakening of the state in
Globalization
• The need for better economic and social interdependence affects
national decision – making as it demands a transfer of decisions to the
international level.

• Supranational Forces – organizations, institutions, or powers that

transcend national boundaries and authority, often acting above or
independent of individual nation-states. These forces operate on an
international or global level and have the ability to influence or
directly govern certain areas of policy, laws, or decisions, often
involving multiple countries.
The Weakening of the state in
Globalization
• The following are the ways supranational forces
1. Creation of supranational economy whose transactions are largely
uncontrolled or even uncontrollable by states
2. The rise of global institution such as international banking
institutions that makes smaller states be dependent in
supranational forces that gives loans under politically restrictive
conditions
3. territorial borders that have been made irrelevant due to
technological revolution in transport and communications.
Remaining Functions of the state
• Despite globalization and the rise of supranational organizations, states continue to play
crucial roles in global governance, often by shaping, enforcing, or participating in
international rules and standards. Here are some of the remaining functions of the state

1. National Security and Defense

2. Sovereignty in foreign policy and diplomacy
3. Economic regulation and National Economic Policies
4. Human Rights Protection and Justice
5. Environmental Management and Sustainability
6. Cultural identity and National Sovereignty
7. Taxation and Fiscal Sovereignty
8. Public health and Safety