Our Global Neighborhood: The Report of the Commission on Global Governance

By Commission On Global Governance, Comissão sobre a Governança Global, The Commission on Global Governance

Book Overview

Coming to terms with the realities of our new global environment, an environment in which human relationships span the globe and interdendencies and interconnections are multiplying exponentially, will be the greatest challenge of the coming century. Our Global Neighborhood takes the first step in tackling the crucial issues standing in the way of the world community's progress on the eve of the twenty-first century. Its far-reaching recommendations stand as the most thorough attempt to ensure peace and progress around the world since the formation of the United Nations.
Conceived by the Commission on Global Governance, this vastly important book represents the collective thinking of twenty-eight eminent international figures from a variety of professional and public affairs backgrounds. Established in 1992 to analyze global changes in recent decades and to suggest ways in which the international community can better cooperate on global issues, the Commission works to capitalize on the myriad opportunities afforded the world community in the wake of the Cold War. Beginning with an analysis of the complex and contradictory effects of globalization and the end of the Cold War, this extensive report outlines the major transformations that have transpired over the last fifty years including the political, economic, military, technological, intellectual, and institutional changes that have so powerfully marked the second half of the twentieth century. In turn, it surveys the major problems, such as ethnic conflict, unemployment, environmental degradation, and extensive population growth, that have emerged from these transformations to confront world leaders.
In itself, the end of the Cold War has far from ended the world's problems. While the threat of nuclear superpower war has receded, the spread of nuclear capability and of biological and chemical weapons poses great dangers. Wars, between states and even more within states (such as the ongoing tragedy of both Yugoslavia and Rwanda), have continued to destroy lives. With this in mind, Our Global Neighborhood addresses the two principle norms that have guided relations among states, both before and after the Cold War: sovereignty and self-determination. It explains why these norms are still important and how they must be adapted to meet the new realities of the emerging global community. Discussing the importance of shared values in a time of transition, it identifies the values that the Commission believes most important, including justice, equity, tolerance, liberty, and nonviolence. And it goes on to call for a new global ethic based on a set of responsibilities and rights that would encourage cooperation and collaboration in a global neighborhood.
As the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations approaches in 1995, the adequacy of our institutions of global governance and the need to strengthen them will increasingly claim the attention of world leaders and citizens alike. The debates prompted by this anniversary lend a poignant timeliness to Our Global Neighborhood as it makes recommendations for changes in international organizations--especially those that are part of the United Nations system--such as revitalizing the General Assembly and reforming the Security Council.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0198279973
• ISBN13: 9780198279976
• Release Date: February 1995
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.13 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.1" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

If you are a leader you must read this book

The Commission on Global Governance was established in the belief that international developments had created a unique opportunity for strengthening global cooperation to meet the challenge of securing peace, achieving sustainable development, and universalizing democracy. A preliminary study led to the "Stockholm Initiative on Global Security and Governance" and the appointment of a distinguished 28-member commission serving in a private capacity independent of government or any organization. "The Commission's basic aim is to contribute to the improvement of global governance. It will analyze the main forces of global change, examine the major issues facing the world community, assess the adequacy of global institutional arrangements and suggest how they should be reformed or strengthened." The members believed that it should be possible to move the world to a higher level of cooperation than has ever been attempted, taking advantage of the growing recognition of global interdependence. Commission members divided themselves into four working groups on global values, global security, global development, and global governance, being guided by a single desire "to develop a common vision of the way forward for the world in making the transition from the cold war and in managing humanity's journey into the 21st century. We believe this report offers such a vision. The strongest message we can convey is that humanity can agree on a better way to manage its affairs and give hope to present and future generations." Today change is very rapid and highly visible. There is a need for balance, caution and vision. Our future will depend on the extent to which people and leaders around the world develop a vision of a better world and the strategies, the institutions and the will to achieve it. Leadership is urgently needed; leadership of a different character with a commitment to public service; leadership informed by an understanding of the most important transformation of recent decades, leadership grounded in a new value system based on a commitment to care for others embodied in the metaphor of being a good neighbor. The Commission was convinced that whatever ideas it advanced in institutional and other change, must be grounded in values that speak to the tasks facing the contemporary world, including acceptance of a global ethic, and courageous leadership at all levels of society infused with that ethic. Without a global ethic, the frictions and tensions of living in the global neighborhood will multiply; without leadership, even the best designed institution and strategies will fail. Barbara Ward summed it up in these words: "The most important change that people can make is to change their way of looking at the world. We can change studies, jobs, neighborhoods, even countries and continents and still remain much as we always were. But change our fundamental angle of vision and everything changes - our priorities, our values, our judgements, our pursuit