GLOBAL GOVERNANCE uneven distribution of authority and
control over decisions and policies
Global Governments and Governance
Ann Florini of Brookings Institution (BI)
described the global order that is not under
the control and umbrella of a particular
political body.
Global government
o A response on the actions of various
stakeholders on finding out pressing
global problems like climate change
and issues on peace and security
The world has no global government and
global authority
What the world has is the idea of global
governance
Global Governance
 Refers to domestic institutions and
governments on how large scale
problems and public-policy issues are
being solved at a global level.
 The HOW of global operations
 Involves a range of actors including
states, national and regional bodies that
have the willingness and commitment to
confront a particular problem (WHO,
2015).
 This international process is bounded by
consensus and agreements where
members are expected to perform based
on the guidelines and policies
 The downside of global governance is
establishing its sovereignty and
accountability to all decisions framed
and actions implemented.
PROBLEMS IN GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
Three Existing Gaps and Issues in Global
Governance (WHO, 2015)
1. Jurisdiction Gap
 Problems arises from the absence of
authority
 Involves the need to create power and
jurisdiction to governments and
international organizations that have the
commitment in confronting issues like
unemployment, human rights. and
crimes.
2. Incentive Gap
 An issue between the rich and poor
countries of the world because of
 Countries that do not provide higher
material contribution usually receive
lesser amount of incentives.
3. Participation Gap
 Problem of consensus in decision-
making
 Member-states sometimes disagree on
issues that are harmful to their interest.
 Countries that will be harmed by the
implementation of the policy express
their opposition and unwillingness to
cooperate.
POLITICAL SYSTEMS
 The system or the form of practice
employed by the state.
Two Dimensions of Political Systems
1. A country emphasizes the importance of
individualism as opposed to collectivism.
2. A system in which a country is either
democratic or totalitarian in its form of
government
COLLECTIVISM AND INDIVIDUALISM
Individualism
 A political system that values the
significance of individuals over collective
goals
 Freedom of the people is the primary
consideration in an individualist society
 Government values choices and
preferences of its people at a very
personal level.
 The interests and individual diversity as
well as private ownership should prevail
over the interests of the state (Aristotle)
 This concept of individualism was
famously introduced by Adam Smith in
his book "The Wealth of the Nation"
Two Elements of Individualism
1. Individual freedom and self-expression
 Preferential attention to the sanctity
and social worth of freedom and
expression
2. The pursuit of economic interest among
individuals
 Based on the personal interest and
pursuit of man.
Collectivism
  A philosophy that stresses the importance
of collective goals over individual freedom
and interests.
 The state, as the primary economic
manager views collective action as the
best strategy in establishing the welfare
and interest of the nation.
 Collectivism as a means of attaining
goals, is more ideal than individualism
where the interest of the many is the top
priority.
 Plato believed that society and individuals
must sacrifice something for the good and
interest of the majority (social
stratification)
 A very common example of collectivism is
the system of socialist nationalism
 Believes that institutions must restrict the
economic freedom and distribute wealth
to the working class
TOTALITARIANISM AND DEMOCRACY
Democracy
 Democratic institutions and governance
focus on the role of individuals in political
decision-making
 Ancient Greece - citizens should have
direct involvement in decision-making
 The practice of direct participation in
modern societies involves
representation, where individuals
periodically elect someone who has the
ability to represent them in government.
 In a representative democracy ,
competitive elections occur where
candidates freely compete for votes
through the conduct of fair and honest
election.
Nine (9) Common Practices and Description
of an Ideal Representative Democracy
(Weson, 1990)
1) Freedom of expression, opinion, and
organization
2) Freedom of media and press
3) The conduct of regular elections
4) Universal adult suffrage
5) Specific and limited terms for elected
officials
6) Independent judiciary and court system
force
7) Nonpolitical and nonpartisan police
8) Public access to information
Totalitarianism
 This political system is built on the idea
that society and citizens have no right
and freedom of expression.
 Totalitarian countries do not recognize
the conduct of fair and honest election,
the presence of media, and civil liberties.
 "Decision making of the states is
exclusive only on a single political party
if not a single ruler who has the full
control in the political, economic and
social affairs of its government."
 Totalitarianism is the pure opposite form
of political system of democratic
societies.
 Freedom and individualism do not form
as part of the system of totalitarianism.
Four Forms Of Totalitarianism
1. Communist Totalitarianism
 China, Cuba, and North Korea have
characteristics of this form of
totalitarianism.
 These countries deny basic rights and
civil liberties of its citizens.
2. Theocratic Totalitarianism
 Iran and Saudi Arabia are examples of
countries under theocratic
totalitarianism.
 Government and people of these states
are governed based on the religious
principles of Islam.
 There are limitations and restrictions on
the political and religious expression of
the people.
3. Tribal Totalitarianism
 This system occurs when one tribal
group or party monopolizes the political
power of the country.
 A common system among African states
where tribal and ethnic groups have the
power to control the political and
economic operation of the country
4. Right-wing Totalitarianism
 South Korea and Taiwan during the 70s
were described as countries that
experienced right-wing totalitarianism.
 This system permits individuals to have
economic freedom but are restricted on
their political rights.
 The central government acts as the State
manager overseeing the economic and
political affairs.
 Fear of Communism – no political
freedom
POLITICAL LAYERS AND GEOPOLITICS
 Realists define power as capability of a commitment with the values of the
country or state like population of its Americans.
people, resources, territory, economic and
military strengths (Chomsky, 2006; Nau, Three Powers in International System
2008).
1. Bipolarity/Bipolar
In a typical discourse, power is described
 If there are only two great powers
as the ability of a person, group or
dominating the distribution of power
institution to affect the behavior of others
 The Cold War era (US and USSR)
even against their will.
Military and economic capability are
2. Tripolar/Tripolarity
determinants of power
 If there are only three states
dominating the distribution of global
Geopolitics
order
 A focus and concentration of a country's
 United States, Japan and Europe were
location, environment, and geography as
considered as potential powers during
the basis of its national interests
the Second World War
 United States and China have ideal
 Japan, China and United States are
geography because of its vast land and
the three leading economic giants
territory. Israel on the other hand, has
struggles when it comes to defending
3. Multipolar/Multipolarity
the territory because it is surrounded by
 When more states are involved in the
Islam majority countries.
distribution of global power
 This geopolitical condition is described
Unilateralism
as an alignment of the powerful and
 The power of post-cold war era remains
emerging powers in the world.
exclusive to the enjoyment of United
 The current situation of the globe could
States which has the authority to act in
be described as multipolar because of
affecting other through executing set of
state actors joining the prestige of
rules and regulations that will compel
superpowers
other countries to follow suit.
 Europe, China, Japan, Russia. United
 The Western hegemony is a longstanding
States and major alliances are key
project of the Americans since the time of
players in the distribution of power
colonial period.
 It has shown the world its power to
The central question posed in this
influence the political economic, and
distribution of power and the stability of the
technological decision-making and
world is "Which style of balance of power
operations of state.
will provide sustainable global order?"
 The economic growth experienced by
William Wohlforth of Georgetown University
China and other emerging economies in
argued that distribution of power is unstable
the world are dependent on the American
and conflict-prone based on the following
market.
reasons
 Global stability of power enjoyed by the
1) The world system is unambiguously
Americans can only be sustained if it will
unipolar which is predominantly enjoyed
employ the liberal values of freedom,
by superpower
democracy and human rights
 United States and the next powerful
state have a larger margin over the
Multilateralism
superiority of United States.
 Multilateralists suggest that for United
 This is the only superpower country the
States to maintain its hegemony and
has all the components: economic,
global power, it has to form alliances and
military, and technology
coalitions in a multipolar configuration of
2) Unipolarity is prone to peace.
power
 Global wars were caused by countries
 This state strategy could be best
aiming for power and dominance.
extracted through intensifying its
 The unipolarity of power by United
partnerships and strategic alliances with
States is a framework of global
partner countries that have shown
leadership on the international system
 and no other country can perform such
order in the future.
 Wohlforth added that unipolarity
minimizes competition among other
great powers
3) Unipolarity is not only peaceful but
durable too.
 For many decades, no state has
experienced to be in the position of
United States in any of the identified
components: military. economic and
technology
 Countries that have economic interest
with US are identified allies as partners
in the maintenance of American power

Isolationism
 Isolationists believe that major powers
and states exclude the use of force and
military in the international system.
 Realist-isolationist stresses that United
States must disengage itself in using
military force over other countries and
stop its military operations and bases in
countries where it has military interests
 Wallerstein (2002) argued that United
States engagement in war brought both
social significance and damage.