GLOBAL GOVERNANCE and GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
• understood as “…the way in which global affairs are managed. As there is no global government,
global governance typically involves a range of actors including states, as well as regional and
international organizations. However, a single organization may nominally be given the lead role on
an issue, for example the World Trade Organization (WTO) in world trade affairs. Thus, global
governance is thought to be an international process of consensus-forming which generates
guidelines and agreements that affect national governments and international corporations.
Examples of such consensus would include World Health Organization (WHO) policies on health
issues” (WHO, 2015).

• refers to governance on a global scale. While the concept seems simple in theory, it can take many
forms in practice. National governments come in many shapes and sizes. But global governance, as
we shall see, is a different beast altogether.

• aid in helping to solve any challenges within the international system.

• achieved the same way as on a national scale: one monolithic, unitary government operating across
the entire globe. All people would adhere to the same rules and be answerable to the same final
authority, and all people would rely on the same institutions to provide safety and services. In other
words, the whole world could unite as a single country.

• achieved many safeguards with respect to the merits of democracy and deliberative governance
around the world

• the sum of laws, norms, policies, and institutions that define, constitute, and mediate relations
between citizens, societies, markets, and states in the international system–the wielders and objects
of the exercise of international public power”.

• an interdisciplinary examination of power and authority in the global arena and examines the variety
of actors, institutions, ideas, rules, and processes that contribute to the management of global
society, exploring their origins, their evolving roles, as well as their political, economic, social,
environmental, and ethical consequences. In addition to considering international organizations and
inter-state interactions, global governance gives critical focus to various non-state actors, formal and
informal networks, and broader transnational, supranational, and sub-national realities of
contemporary life that increasingly contribute to the establishment and functioning of global rules,
norms and institutions.

• the whole array of inter-governmental organizations (e.g. United Nations, World Bank), international
NGOs (e.g. Greenpeace, Amnesty International), and the many citizen initiatives and community
action groups that reach above the nation-state level (e.g. World Social Forum, Occupy Movement).

Global governance or world governance is a movement towards political cooperation among

transnational actors, aimed at negotiating responses to problems that affect more than one state or
region. Institutions of global governance—the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, the
World Bank, etc.—tend to have limited or demarcated power to enforce compliance. The modern
question of world governance exists in the context of globalization and globalizing regimes of power:
politically, economically and culturally. In response to the acceleration of worldwide interdependence,
both between human societies and between humankind and the biosphere, the term "global governance"
may name the process of designating laws, rules, or regulations intended for a global scale.

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Global Governance is a very salient issue on the international agenda: it refers to the rule making
efforts to sustain cooperation in order to address global problems or concerns. Increasingly the world has
to deal with security threats, financial breakdown, development concerns and deteriorating
environmental conditions. States try to coordinate their efforts to respond to these challenges through
the establishment of international institutions like the UN, the WTO and the treaties governing
environmental change. However, states have enjoyed a varying degree of success in setting up
institutions to govern common problems, and therefore non-state actors have increasingly been involved
in providing intellectual and financial resources to deal with international problems.

Reference:
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/courses/undergraduate/modules/year-
two/global-governance.aspx

PRINCIPLES
Global governance encompasses the totality of institutions, policies, norms, procedures and
initiatives through which States and their citizens try to bring more predictability, stability and order to
their responses to transnational challenges. Effective global governance can only be achieved with
effective international cooperation

Five principles are critical to guiding the reforms of global governance and global rules:
i. Common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capacities: This principle calls for
recognizing differences among countries in terms of their contribution and historical responsibilities
in generating common problems, as well as divergences in financial and technical capacities, in order
to address shared challenges. This principle also acknowledges the diversity of national
circumstances and policy approaches—a diversity which should be embedded in the architecture of
global governance as an intrinsic feature of the global community, not as an exception to general
rules.
ii. Subsidiarity: Issues ought to be addressed at the lowest level capable of addressing them. This
principle implies that some problems can be handled well and efficiently at the local, national, sub-
regional and regional levels reducing the number of issues that need to be tackled at the
international and supranational level. Subsidiarity suggests an important role for regional
cooperation in addressing issues of mutual concern.
iii. Inclusiveness, transparency, accountability: Global governance institutions need to be representative
of, and accountable to, the entire global community, while decision-making procedures need to be
democratic, inclusive and transparent. Robust governance implies mutual accountability, verified by
transparent and credible mechanisms and processes to ensure that agreed commitments and duties
are fulfilled.
iv. Coherence: Definitions of global rules and processes need to rest on comprehensive approaches,
including the assessment of possible trade-offs, so that actions in different areas will not undermine
or disrupt one another, but instead be mutually reinforcing. Enhanced coherence is also needed
between the international and national spheres of policymaking. This also requires improved
coordination among various stakeholders and enhanced information sharing.
v. Responsible sovereignty: This principle recognizes that policy cooperation is the best way to achieve
national interests in the global public domain. It also requires Governments and States to be fully
respectful of the sovereignty of other nations so as to fulfill agreed policy outcomes.

Reference:
https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/policy/cdp/cdp_publications/2014cdppolicynote.pdf
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GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

• the idea that all people have rights and civic responsibilities that come with being a member of the
world, with whole-world philosophy and sensibilities, rather than as a citizen of a particular nation
or place.
• this principle suggests that one’s identity transcends geography or political borders, and that
responsibilities or rights are derived from membership in a broader class: "humanity".
“…This does not mean that such a person denounces or waives their nationality or other,
more local identities, but such identities are given "second place" to their membership in
a global community. Extended, the idea leads to questions about the state of global
society in the age of globalization. In general usage, the term may have much the same
meaning as "world citizen" or cosmopolitan, but it also has additional, specialized
meanings in differing contexts.”
• a global citizen: is someone who is aware of and understands the wider world - and their place in it;
and plays an active role in their community, and work with others to make our planet more equal,
fair and sustainable.
• is all about encouraging young people to develop the knowledge, skills, and values they need to
engage with the world. And it's about the belief that we can all make a difference. (OXFAM)
• a way of living that recognizes that the world is an increasingly complex web of connections and
interdependencies
• nurtures personal respect and respect for others, wherever they live.
• encourages individuals to think deeply and critically about what is equitable and just, and what will
minimize harm to our planet

Global Citizenship: Basics

✓ Citizenship is associated with rights and obligations; for instance, the right to vote, and the
obligation to pay taxes. Both rights and obligations link the individual to the state. How can the idea
of citizenship then be transferred to the global level? However, we don’t have a global government
or state. Therefore, reform in Global Governance is required to allow world citizens to take more
directly a part in political life at the global level.

Global Citizen
A global citizen is someone who identifies with being part of an emerging world community and whose
actions contribute to building this community’s values and practices. Accepts the reality that there is:
a. such a thing as an emerging world community to which people can identify; and
b. such a community has a nascent (growing) set of values and practices.

A Global Citizen is someone who

1. is aware of the wider world and has a sense of their own role as a world citizen
2. respects and values diversity
3. has an understanding of how the world works
4. is outraged by social injustice
5. participates in the community at a range of levels, from the local to the global
6. is willing to act to make the world a more equitable and sustainable place
7. takes responsibility for their actions.

Global Citizenship as a form of right and responsibility:

1. Builds understanding of world events
2. Considers values and their importance

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3. Elevates learning into the real world
4. Challenges ignorance and intolerance
5. Getting involved in local, national and global communities
6. Recognizes liberty of expression on world affairs
7. Realizes sovereignty to act and influence the world around them

What Does it Mean to be a Global Citizen?

By Ron Israel and the Global Citizen’s Initiative

Ron Israel and the Global Citizen’s Initiative Considerations of becoming a Global Citizen:
1. RECOGNIZE the global part of who you are: All of our lives have become globalized; whether through
the Internet, the way in which we’re impacted by the global economy; our desire to provide
humanitarian assistance to disaster victims in countries other than our own; or even in our love of
world art, music, food, and travel. We all have a part of us that is global. Examine your own life,
recognize its global dimension, and reflect on how that affects your view of the world.
2. EXPAND your definition of community: Because of the many ways in which countries and people are
now so interconnected, we all are now part of an emerging world community. This doesn’t mean that
we have to give up being a member of other communities, e.g., our town, our country, our ethnicity. It
means that we have another community—the world community—to which we now belong. Find
ways to celebrate your connection to this community.
3. DISCOVER the values of the world community: Every community needs to have values, and the world
community is no exception to this rule. The values of the world community reflect the moral ideals
that most of us believe in as the basis for human existence, for example human rights, religious
pluralism, participatory governance, protection of the environment, poverty reduction, sustainable
economic growth, elimination of weapons of mass destruction, prevention and cessation of conflict
between countries, humanitarian assistance, and the preservation of the world’s cultural diversity.
Take stock of your belief in these values. Are you aware of ways in which the world as a whole is
trying to live by them?
4. BECOME AWARE of global policies and programs: Whether you realize it or not, all around you,
policies and programs are being developed to help govern our emerging world community. Such
policies range in scope from international treaties that ban the spread of nuclear weapons to
administrative rules and regulations governing the internet. Learn about these policies and
programs by subscribing to publications such as GCitizen, the Newsletter of The Global Citizens’
Initiative
5. ENGAGE with the organizations that are trying to govern the world: As a global citizen you should
try and build awareness about the different organizations, which are making the policies shaping our
world community. These organizations include international agencies, like the United Nations and
the International Monetary Fund, legal tribunals like the World Court and the International Criminal
Court, international professional associations like the The International Federation of Accountants or
the International Civil Aviation Organization, and transnational corporations like Starbucks,
Hindustan Lever, and Smith/Kline/Glaxo. Try to learn about and engage with these organizations
and make sure that they are operating in accordance with the values we perceive to be important.
6. PARTICIPATE in an advocacy effort for global change: Sign petitions, join demonstrations, contribute
funds, and explore other ways of advocating for global change. As global citizens we need to join
together to express the fact that people across the planet share common views when it comes to
basic values such as human rights, environmental protection, and the banning of weapons of mass
destruction. The Global Citizens’ Initiative (TGCI) is an organization that provides information and
opportunities for global citizens to join together and advocate for change.

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7. HELP ENSURE your country’s foreign policy promotes global values: Global citizens also are citizens
of the countries in which they were born and live. As such we have the ability to influence the
positions that our countries take on global issues. We need to help ensure that our country’s foreign
policy supports the building of equitable global solutions to world problems; solutions that work for
all countries. So let your government know how you feel by supporting leaders who want their
countries to become engaged with the world, not isolated from it.
8. PARTICIPATE in organizations working to build world community: There are all sorts of
organizations making important contributions to our emerging world community-NGOs, global
action networks, international professional associations, transnational corporations, and others.
They work on a range of issues related to the values of our world community-ranging from human
rights to world arts and culture. Pick one, anyone that relates to an issue in which you are interested,
and get involved.
9. NURTURE a lifestyle that supports sustainable global development: The environmental movement
has taught us a great deal about how everyday lifestyles and behaviors can have an impact on the
quality of life on our planet. The types of transportation we use, how we heat or cool our homes, the
types of clothes we wear and the food we eat all affect our quality of life. As global citizens we need to
adopt environmentally responsible behaviors in the ways we live.
10. SUPPORT world art, music, and culture: Being a global citizen is also a celebration of the many
different arts and cultures of our people. Take time to learn the ways in which different cultures give
expression to the human spirit.

Reference:

Becoming a Global Citizen

https://www.theglobalcitizensinitiative.org/what-it-means-to-be-a-global-citizen-2/

What Does it Mean to be a Global Citizen?

https://www.kosmosjournal.org/article/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-global-citizen/