Global Governance Theory: A Study of its Values - 中欧社会论坛 - China Europa Forum

Global Governance Theory: A Study of its Values

Authors: Liu Xiaolin

1. Different Theories of Global Governance

The existing different theories of global governance can be summarised as the following three categories, namely advocating the current situation based on the state-centred principle, advocating the reform based on the new free system, and advocating the reform based on global civil society. Views and standpoints of these three different schools of thoughts are summarised as shown in the table (see the pdf ).

 

2. The Rationale behind the Global Civil Society

The one-dimensional idea of advocating the current situation based on the state-centred principle should be criticised. Because first of all, it is the state-centred international system that caused international problems and worsened the situation, threatening the existence of our earth and ourselves as human beings; and second, under the state-centred international system, international problems cannot be solved completely.

The international mechanism advocated by the state-centred international system is based on cooperation among nations. Although this system cannot fundamentally address international problems due to the system’s own limitation, it does play an important and positive role in current global governance. Despite the differences between this system and that of global civil society (the former applies top-down approach while the latter bottom-up), they both propose a mild and non-violent approach to solve the international problems.

The rising of the global civil society including international non-governmental organisations and social movements and organisations aimed at addressing international problems, as well as social ethos are the fundamental driving force to solve international problems completely and should be fully acknowledged.

3. Reflections on the Value of Global Governance Theory

Considering the urgency of solving international problems, it is high time to raise the global awareness of humankind, to maintain public good, to get rid of the drawbacks of the state-centred system and the conflicts between countries over one’s own interests caused by these drawbacks. We should aim at the global common good and realise the transition from public evil to public good, because it is the only way to solve the global problems. China is a big developing country and the Chinese people should assume the responsibility to work with other people all over the world to save the earth and humankind.

As a part of global awareness, environmental consciousness is an important social and public awareness and great attention should be paid to it all over the world.

Developed countries that have been in the dominant status in globalisation and have been benefiting from it should assume greater responsibility in solving international problems. Developing countries should not take the old path of Western industrialisation, nor should these countries sacrifice fundamental interests of mankind for nation-states’ short term interests.

International non-governmental organisations as part of global civil society play a pioneering and exemplary role in today’s global governance. The democratisation of international relations and the global politics depend on these positive forces and developments.

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