Global governance

As we stepped into the 21st century, we brought scientific achievements into our modern society, but at the same time, we also brought many global problems along with us that remained unresolved into this new era. Global problems such as wars, poverty, hunger, AIDS, pollutions and violation to human rights all call for global governance. What is global governance? It is defined by Thomas G. Weiss, director of Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies at CUNY, as “collective efforts to identify, understand, or address worldwide problems that go beyond the capacity of individual states to solve.”

To further discuss about the problems mentioned above, violence continues in Iraq, Darfur, Nepal, Chechnya, Northern Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, etc. Terrorist attacks bring death to many from London to Amman. Every couple of seconds, one person dies of starvation. Billions of people live on less than 2$ a day. A hundred million children are still not enrolled in primary school. 1 billion people are illiterate. HIV continues to spread. An African child dies of malaria every half second. The under-five mortality rate and maternal mortality ratio remains high. Hundreds of millions of people remain without clean water or sanitation. In addition, global warming is still an issue.

Organizations such as United Nation, European Union and World Trade Organization are taking actions in bring aid to all the problems. Events such as 2005 and 2007 World Summit were organized, bringing leaders from around the world to discuss these global issues. However, Rome can not be built in one day. It requires the future leaders of the 21st century to continue to work hard on achieving world peace and prosperity. Not only states play a role in global governance, but private actors such as multinational corporations, scientists, environmentalists and intergovernmental organizations participate as well. Also, a systems thinking approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of all people and all problems is required. The principle we should follow is one of sustainability. In the mists of all this, the phenomenon of globalization is the catalyst of it all. Because it increases global connectivity, integration and interdependence in economy, society, technology, culture, politics and ecology. Finally, some solutions have been thought out: reach social improvements using non-violent, legal methods, increase government funding of education at all levels and increase freedom by improving the availability of communication tools, etc.