Global Governance: Political and Economic
Key definitions:
The United Nations: created in 1945 following the Second World War to promote
international co-operation and the prevent another such conflict
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO): military alliance based on the North Atlantic
Treaty, signed in 1949
World government: the idea of a common political authority with legislative and executive
power over states
Security Council (UNSC): the United Nations' most powerful body, with primary
responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security
World Bank: international organisation that offers concessional loans and grants to the
world's poorest developing countries in order to reduce poverty
World Trade Organisation (WTO): organisation that regulates international trade
International Monetary Fund (IMF): works to foster global monetary co-operation, secure
financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable
economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world
G7(8): the Group of 7 (G8 from 1998-2014) is an informal forum consisting of
representatives from seven developed countries
G20: the Group of 20 is similar to the G7, but is composed of the G7 nations plus 12
emerging economies and a representative from the EU
North-South divide: global socio-economic and political divide
Dependency theory: emphasises structural imbalances within capitalism that impose
dependency on poorer states
Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP): a loan provided by either the IMF or the World
Bank to a country experiencing economic crisis, which requires the recipient state to meet
certain conditions
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs): any non-profit, voluntary citizens' group
organised on a local, national or international level (e.g. Christian Aid). NGOs perform a
variety of service and humanitarian functions, bring citizens' concerns to the governments,
advocate and monitor policies and encourage political participation through provision of
information
A system of global and regional institutions and organisations has developed to enable states to
come together to agree on solutions to shared problems. Whilst states can engage in bilateral
approaches, global environmental, economic and security challenges need a more concerted effort.
Political
The Westphalian system is based on the sovereign independent state, implying no government can
be higher than the state. Global government implies compulsion and some people fears that this
goes against the right of a nation to govern itself; global government takes away accountability and
the decision-making capabilities of the people.
, The United Nations (UN)
The UN is the only intergovernmental organisation where all the world's states can be members. It is
the global forum where all states can meet and engage over challenges facing humanity (topics
include climate change, international terrorism, food production, human rights, poverty and
humanitarian interventions).
The UN, now with 193 members, came to be following the WWII (1945) and the early failures of the
League of Nations. Each member state agrees to uphold the terms of the 1945 UN Charter; this
includes the UN's determination to reaffirm human rights and equality, establish the respect of the
rule of law and promote social progress. (Article 1 proposes: 1. to maintain international peace and
security, 2. to develop friendly relations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-
determination of peoples, 3. to achieve international co-operation)
Strengths of the UN Weaknesses of the UN
global forum where every country is a works as a talking show, but has little power,
member and can co-operate to find solutions as there is no compulsion
to global problems and have worldwide gives equal say to democracies and dictators
communication networks but also some states have too much power
allows equal representation of all states represents the interests of states, not people
unique in the world - necessary difficult to reform
'jaw jaw is better than war war'
The UN has six main organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social
Council, the International Court of Justice, the UN Secretariat and the Trusteeship Council.
The General Assembly is the main body (the main representative, deliberative and policy-making
body) for all 193 UN members and it meets annually. It is a talking shop of the world where each
states has an equal say and all voices can be heard. Peace and security, budgetary and decisions to
admit a new member required 2/3 of the vote, whilst other decisions requires a simple majority. The
General Assembly is more diverse with a greater range of interests, following decolonisation and the
admission of new countries.
The Security Council is the most important UN organ for maintaining peace and security in the
world; it can authorise military action to enforce its resolutions (e.g. against Iraq in 1990-91). The
Council has 5 permanent members (USA, China, Russia, UK, France) and 10 non-permanent
members who are elected by the GA every 2 years. Each member has one vote, but permanent
members have a veto, which impacts its effectiveness.
Strengths of the UN Security Council Weaknesses of the UN Security Council
represents the realities of world power often powerless due to permanent member
can be a powerful force when acting rivalries and clashes of interest
collaboratively undemocratic = more power to some states
represents and ideal of collective security represents the world order of 1945, not
represents an ideal of upholding the UN current
Key definitions:
The United Nations: created in 1945 following the Second World War to promote
international co-operation and the prevent another such conflict
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO): military alliance based on the North Atlantic
Treaty, signed in 1949
World government: the idea of a common political authority with legislative and executive
power over states
Security Council (UNSC): the United Nations' most powerful body, with primary
responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security
World Bank: international organisation that offers concessional loans and grants to the
world's poorest developing countries in order to reduce poverty
World Trade Organisation (WTO): organisation that regulates international trade
International Monetary Fund (IMF): works to foster global monetary co-operation, secure
financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable
economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world
G7(8): the Group of 7 (G8 from 1998-2014) is an informal forum consisting of
representatives from seven developed countries
G20: the Group of 20 is similar to the G7, but is composed of the G7 nations plus 12
emerging economies and a representative from the EU
North-South divide: global socio-economic and political divide
Dependency theory: emphasises structural imbalances within capitalism that impose
dependency on poorer states
Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP): a loan provided by either the IMF or the World
Bank to a country experiencing economic crisis, which requires the recipient state to meet
certain conditions
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs): any non-profit, voluntary citizens' group
organised on a local, national or international level (e.g. Christian Aid). NGOs perform a
variety of service and humanitarian functions, bring citizens' concerns to the governments,
advocate and monitor policies and encourage political participation through provision of
information
A system of global and regional institutions and organisations has developed to enable states to
come together to agree on solutions to shared problems. Whilst states can engage in bilateral
approaches, global environmental, economic and security challenges need a more concerted effort.
Political
The Westphalian system is based on the sovereign independent state, implying no government can
be higher than the state. Global government implies compulsion and some people fears that this
goes against the right of a nation to govern itself; global government takes away accountability and
the decision-making capabilities of the people.
, The United Nations (UN)
The UN is the only intergovernmental organisation where all the world's states can be members. It is
the global forum where all states can meet and engage over challenges facing humanity (topics
include climate change, international terrorism, food production, human rights, poverty and
humanitarian interventions).
The UN, now with 193 members, came to be following the WWII (1945) and the early failures of the
League of Nations. Each member state agrees to uphold the terms of the 1945 UN Charter; this
includes the UN's determination to reaffirm human rights and equality, establish the respect of the
rule of law and promote social progress. (Article 1 proposes: 1. to maintain international peace and
security, 2. to develop friendly relations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-
determination of peoples, 3. to achieve international co-operation)
Strengths of the UN Weaknesses of the UN
global forum where every country is a works as a talking show, but has little power,
member and can co-operate to find solutions as there is no compulsion
to global problems and have worldwide gives equal say to democracies and dictators
communication networks but also some states have too much power
allows equal representation of all states represents the interests of states, not people
unique in the world - necessary difficult to reform
'jaw jaw is better than war war'
The UN has six main organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social
Council, the International Court of Justice, the UN Secretariat and the Trusteeship Council.
The General Assembly is the main body (the main representative, deliberative and policy-making
body) for all 193 UN members and it meets annually. It is a talking shop of the world where each
states has an equal say and all voices can be heard. Peace and security, budgetary and decisions to
admit a new member required 2/3 of the vote, whilst other decisions requires a simple majority. The
General Assembly is more diverse with a greater range of interests, following decolonisation and the
admission of new countries.
The Security Council is the most important UN organ for maintaining peace and security in the
world; it can authorise military action to enforce its resolutions (e.g. against Iraq in 1990-91). The
Council has 5 permanent members (USA, China, Russia, UK, France) and 10 non-permanent
members who are elected by the GA every 2 years. Each member has one vote, but permanent
members have a veto, which impacts its effectiveness.
Strengths of the UN Security Council Weaknesses of the UN Security Council
represents the realities of world power often powerless due to permanent member
can be a powerful force when acting rivalries and clashes of interest
collaboratively undemocratic = more power to some states
represents and ideal of collective security represents the world order of 1945, not
represents an ideal of upholding the UN current
