10/09/2023

CHAPTER 5
GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
RUBY ROSE P. VINLUAN
INSTRUCTOR, CASS

OUTLINE
Global Government and Governance

Political Systems

Political Layers and Geopolitics

Global Political Institutions

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Global Government
Global government is 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.

There are political and economic bodies operating worldwide but no single
organization possesses a global authority in enforcing and compelling others
to follow.

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.

It involves a range of actors including states, national and regional bodies that
have the willingness and commitment to confront a specific problem (WHO, 2015).

It involves management, authority, cooperation, and mechanisms that are aimed

to attain certain goals.

This international process is bounded by consensus and agreements where

members are expected to perform based on the guidelines and policies

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Three Existing Gaps and Issues in Global

Governance
1. Jurisdiction Gap
• The lack of global governance in taking actions to problems affecting key sectors arises from
the absence of authority. This involves the need to create power and jurisdiction to
governments and international organizations that have the commitment in confronting
issues like unemployment, human rights, peace, and crimes.

2. Incentive Gap
• Global governance is formed with the participation of countries that have the interest to deal
problem affecting their sovereignty. It is an issue between the rich and poor countries of the
world because of uneven distribution of authority and control over decisions and policies.
3. Participation Gap
• Member-states sometimes disagree on issues that are harmful to their interests. They do not
involve in decisions that are crucial to the economic and political welfare of their sovereignty.

Political Systems

Political System means the system, or the form of practice employed

by the state.
Udayanskar (2012) identified two dimensions of political system.

First, a country emphasizes the importance of individualism as

opposed to collectivism.
Second, a system in which a country is either democratic or totalitarian
in its form of government.

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INDIVIDUALISM • it is a political system that values the significance of individuals over collective
goals.
• freedom of the people is the primary consideration.
• government values choices and preferences of its people at a very personal
level.
• it is built in two elements: individual freedom and expression are important in
the sense that individuals just like state have sovereignty; and the pursuit of
economic interest among individuals.
COLLECTIVISM • is a philosophy that stresses the importance of the 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.
• According Plato, social stratification must be built in order for the society and
the entire economy and the government be managed properly and orderly.

DEMOCRACY • Democratic institutions and governance focus on the role individuals in political 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 the
government.
• in a representative democracy, competitive elections occur where candidates freely compete
for votes through conduct of fair and honest election.
• elected officials are accountable for their actions in the government and operation of the
state.
• constitutional laws are provided to safeguard the welfare and interest of the people.
TOTALITARIANISM • 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 ruler who has
full control in the political, economic, and social affairs if its government.

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Political Layers and Geopolitics

States in contemporary world are hungry for power.

Power is the ultimate goal to contain and control other states and nations that do not
enjoy much power are considered as powerless states in international arena.

Realists define power as capabilities of a country to control other countries like

population of its people, resources, territory, economic, and military strengths
(Chomsky, 2006; Nau, 2008).

In international relations, geopolitics is defined as a focus and concentration of a country's location,

environment, and geography as the basis of its national interests (Nau, 2008).

United States and China have ideal geography because of its vast land and territory, Israel on the
other hand, has struggles when it comes to defending the territory because it is surrounded by Islam
majority countries.

India enjoys its huge territory but have some challenges when it comes to territorial security and
military relationships with neighboring countries Pakistan and China

Political Layers and Geopolitics

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Unilateralism

• The economic growth experienced by China and other

emerging economies in the world are dependent on the
American market.

• On the political angle, American military power is

considered as the most highly valued military force in
the world with billions of dollars annually spent by the Political Layers and
government. Its military presence in some countries in Geopolitics
Asia and Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Europe and
South America is a remarkable manifestation of its
control in global defense operation.

• However, the global stability of power enjoyed by the

Americans can only be sustained if it will employ the
liberal values of freedom, democracy, and human rights
(Balaam, and Veseth, 2008).

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Multilateralism

• The idea of multilateralism includes three powers in

international system.

1. Bipolar - it happens if there are only two great powers

dominating the distribution of power. The Cold War era is
fitting example of bipolarity, the global power was highly
contested between US and USSR. Political Layers and
Geopolitics
2. Tri-polar or tri-polarity - exists if there are only three
states dominating the distribution if global order. United
States, Japan, and Europe were considered as potential
powers during the Second World War. They controlled
some areas under the respective military instruments and
interests. In the area global economic power, Japan,
China, and United States are the most favored nations
identified by scholars as the three leading economic
giants of modern time.

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3. Multipolar or multi-polarity - is
situation when more states are involved in
the distribution of global power. This
geological condition is described as an
alignment if the powerful and emerging
powers in the world. The current situation
of the globe could be described as Political Layers and
Multipolar because of state actors joining Geopolitics
the prestige of superpowers. Europe,
China, Japan, Russia, United States, and
major alliances are key players in the
distribution of power.

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Isolationism

• Isolationists believe that major powers

and states exclude the use of force and
military in the international system. War
and attacking other nations are Political Layers and
unethically acceptable in the international Geopolitics
political economy. It is already enshrined
in the international law. Realist-
isolationist stresses that United States
must disengage itself using military force
over other military interests.

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GLOBAL POLITICAL
INSTITUTIONS

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United Nations

• The United Nations or UN is an international organization

established in 1945 with the League of Nations as its
original body. Currently, the organization has 193-member
states performing various capacities and divisions.
• As the world's most powerful binding political
organization, UN can act on the issues confronting
humanity in the 21st century such as peace and security,
climate change, sustainable development, human rights,
disarmament, terrorism, humanitarian and health
emergencies, gender equality, governance, food
production, and more.
• UN operates worldwide in providing aids and support
services to global problems in countries where it is needed.

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Organs of United Nations

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Organs of United Nations

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North Atlantic Treaty Organization

• NATO was formed initially as a political association, and not a
military alliance. Realists argue that during its proposal in
1949, the idea of collective security arrangement was the
main feature of NATO.
• Its purpose was not directed against the threat of Soviet Union
but to strengthen political commitment of governments in
Western Europe. However, liberalists point out the belief that
NATO was established to back up and save the economic and
political problems of Europe from the damages of war.
• The economic alliances of Europe's powerful countries
transformed the region as a major hub in industrialization. Its
development transformed NATO as a conventional military
alliance and protected Europe from the threat of Soviet Union.

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