Rethinking what will create successful Global Governance

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We seem to be teetering on the brink of several catastrophic global failures, whether in preventing the re-arming of states for military conflict, failing to respond adequately to the accelerating climate crisis, watching helplessly and in disorder among nations as the global pandemic advances, or allowing new information technologies to be used for political interference and manipulation of the public to fragment societies and undermine confidence in governments, among others.

“As the present century opened, new challenges began to loom.
• many of the dominant currents in societies everywhere are pushing people apart, not drawing them together;
• political and economic systems have enabled the enrichment of small coteries with grossly exorbitant wealth;
• the interactions of the individual citizen, governing institutions, and society as a whole are often fraught [by], more and more intransigence in their thinking;
• religious fundamentalism is warping the character of communities, even nations;
• the failings of so many organizations and institutions of society have understandably led to a decline in public trust
• systematically exploited by vested interests seeking to undermine the credibility of all sources of knowledge;
• certain shared ethical principles... are eroded, threatening the prevailing consensus about right and wrong;
• the will to engage in international collective action... has been cowed, assailed by resurgent forces of racism, nationalism, and factionalism.

“Thus do the forces of disintegration regroup and gain ground. So be it. The unification of humanity is unstoppable by any human force…. there is no reason to doubt that the world’s current state of disorder and confusion will worsen—possibly with catastrophic consequences—until a chastened humanity sees fit to take another significant step, perhaps this time decisive, towards enduring peace.”
(Universal House of Justice, To the Bahá’ís of the World, 18 January 2019)

Our present mechanisms for global governance in the United Nations system and other international organizations and agreements have obviously failed to address these risks adequately, yet hardly anyone considers seriously that multilateral action can be improved in the near future. Too many countries are against it. There is a clear need to rethink success in global governance beyond incremental change.

At the same time, the pandemic is fostering a new awareness of the unity of all humankind. It has slammed the brakes on the present economic system, and given those trapped in the consumer society a chance to reflect on what is really important in life. The extreme inequality in the world has been made blindingly obvious. The global response to a risk like the pandemic is only as good as its weakest link. This opens up new opportunities for fundamental change.

Based on our new book “Global Governance and the Emergence of Global Institutions for the 21st Century”, we encourage you to explore a number of questions as possible starting points for your discussions. Here is some of our initial thinking. Please add your own reflections or alternatives.

Is there any reasonable prospect of reforming the United Nations?
• The pandemic has demonstrated to everyone the immediate need for planetary action in a way that climate change has failed to do.
• Crises are opportunities for radical change.
• The UN in its 75th year is teetering between irrelevance and reform.
• Charter revision? Or replacement (to eliminate the veto)

What would need to be done to make the UN fit for purpose today?
• General Assembly, proportional representation, binding legislation
• UN Executive Council would manage UN system, facilitate rapid decision-making
• International Peace Force, coordinated disarmament, dispute resolution
• Strengthened scientific and technology advisory capacity directly linked to policy making
• Chamber for Civil Society, World Parliamentary Assembly to give people a voice
• Judicial system, International Court of Justice compulsory jurisdiction, ICC, Human Rights, anti-corruption court
• Adequate funding for coordinated global action and assistance where needed
• Coordination across all sectors: economic, social and environmental – climate change, global commons, inequality
• IMF global capacity to prevent financial collapse, governance for business
• Education for global citizenship, values

What roles can businesses, civil society organizations and individuals play in working for better global governance?

“We are heartened to see the believers expanding their efforts to participate in the discourses of society—especially those friends who, in their professional capacity, are able to contribute to discourses directly related to peace.”
(Universal House of Justice, To the Bahá’ís of the World, 18 January 2019)

What can we all do to steer the efforts at recovery towards a green economy and a just, sustainable society, and not back to business as usual?
• Multinational corporations have become dominant world players today, with no global regulation or governance, and powerful lobbies
• Small and medium enterprises represent the vast majority of businesses, but with little impact on governance
• CSOs are becoming increasingly influential
• Individuals and global governance? You can vote

What values and spiritual principles will we need to inspire and facilitate global governance reform?

“World unity is finally possible. A global order that unifies the nations with the assent of humanity is the only adequate answer to the destabilizing forces that threaten the world. However, though world unity is possible—nay, inevitable—it ultimately cannot be achieved without unreserved acceptance of the oneness of humankind….”
(Universal House of Justice, To the Bahá’ís of the World, 18 January 2019)

- Bahá’í vision of the Lesser Peace and world federation of nations – World Order of Bahá’u’lláh
• Justice and equity – “leave no one behind”
• Consultation
• Subsidiarity: global, regional, national, local

Hope for the future

“However difficult matters are at present, and however close to the limits of their endurance some sections of societies are brought, humanity will ultimately pass through this ordeal, and it will emerge on the other side with greater insight and with a deeper appreciation of its inherent oneness and interdependence.”
(Universal House of Justice, To the Bahá’ís of the World, Naw-Rúz 177 - 20 March 2020)

“The expectation we expressed... that this test of humanity’s endurance would grant it greater insight is already being realized. Leaders, prominent thinkers, and commentators have begun to explore fundamental concepts and bold aspirations that, in recent times, have been largely absent from public discourse. At present these are but early glimmerings, yet they hold out the possibility that a moment of collective consciousness may be in view.”
(Universal House of Justice, To the Bahá’ís of the World, Riḍván 2020 - 20 April 2020)

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Possible starting points for discussion

Is there any reasonable prospect of reforming the United Nations?
What would need to be done to make the UN fit for purpose today?
What roles can businesses, civil society organizations and individuals play in working for better global governance?
What values and spiritual principles will we need to inspire and facilitate global governance reform?

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Lopez-Claros, Augusto, Arthur L. Dahl and Maja Groff. 2020. Global Governance and the Emergence of Global Institutions for the 21st Century. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 545 p. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/global-governance-and-the-emergenc…

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