Challenges to Global Governance: the Need for a

Paradigm Shift? Wei-Wei Zhang

Fudan and Geneva Universities

Challenge No.1: Fighting Global Warming

• Fundamental cause of global warming

• “Common and differentiated responsibility”

• Per capita consumption rate (J. Diamond)– Rich nations: 32 times that of poor nations– The US: 11 times that of China

• Change of consumption patterns?

• Democracy’s dilemma

Challenge No.2:Non-Proliferation of WMD

• The NPT regime

• A bargain between N. haves and havenots

• Vertical proliferation

• Arms race in outer space?

• The French claim

• The weakening of the NPT regime

Challenge No.3:Global Free Trade?

• The West: the benefit of free trade

• Competition from East Asia

• Rise of trade protectionism

• The case of China– trade disputes with Europe and the US

• Unjust international economic order

• Failure of the Doha round

Challenge No.4:Fighting Global Poverty

• 800 million, 1 billion and 2 billions

• The UN Millennium Goal

• Fighting poverty: a losing battle

• The Western approach to the issue– Ideology-driven– Democratization over pragmatism

• Western aid

New Idea No.I: Good Governance Matters More

• Good governance is more important than democratization

• Conditions for Western institutions

• The case of Sub-Saharan Africa

• Idea of a functioning government

New Idea No.2:Reform of Democracy

• Need for reform of democracy in the West

• Short-term considerations vs. long-term considerations

• Narrow perspectives vs. broader perspectives

• Promoting a less popular cause in the era of globalization?

New Idea No.3:Fighting Poverty as Human Right

• US’s position

• Europe’s position

• China’s position and experience

• Draw inspirations from China’s experience

New Idea No.4:The West: be More Self-Critical

• The West as the source of the solution or source of the problems?

• Mabbubani’s argument

• The existing international order and the Western responsibility

• Reform of global institutions