Critical Choices: The United Nations, Networks, and the Future of Global Governance

by Reinicke, Wolfgang H.; Deng, Francis Mading; Benner, Thorsten; Witte, Jan Martin; Whitaker, Beth

• ISBN13: 9780889369214
• ISBN10: 0889369216
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-10-01
• Publisher: Stylus Pub Llc

Summary

The world that we live in today is changing dramatically. Economic and political liberalization, together with accelerating technological change, are driving the extraordinary process we know as "globalization." This new global environment requires new approaches, new ideas, and innovative tools to address new challenges in areas as different as weapons control, climate change, genetic engineering, and labour standards. "Critical Choices" looks at one such tool: global public policy networks. In these networks, governments, international organizations, the corporate sector, and civil society join together to achieve what none can accomplish on its own. The authors explore both the promises and the limitations of this new form of global cooperation. They discuss how such networks might contribute to better manage the risks and make use of the opportunities that globalization presents. Finally, they offer provocative advice and solid recommendations on how the United Nations can foster such networks in the years ahead.. The United Nations faces a set of critical choices. It must not only be a haven for its member states but also needs to find ways to collaborate with civil society and the global business community in tackling the challenges that lie ahead. By promoting global public policy networks, the UN will more effectively serve its member states and fulfill its mission to address the problems of humanity

Table of Contents

Foreword	vii
Maureen O'Neil
Preface	ix
Executive Summary	xi
Origins and objectives	xii
A range of activities	xiii
The care and tending of networks	xv
What role for the United Nations?	xviii
Conclusions	xx
Introduction	1	(8)
A Changing External Environment	9	(18)
Economic and political liberalization	10	(3)
Technological change	13	(2)
The multidimensional impacts of liberalization and technological change	15	(3)
Complexity and the risks of a partial view	18	(4)
The participatory gap	22	(2)
States, international organizations, and the imperative of change	24	(3)
What Do Networks Do?	27	(38)
A primer on networks	28	(3)
Placing issues on the global agenda	31	(5)
Negotiating and setting standards and regulations	36	(11)
Developing and disseminating knowledge	47	(5)
Making and deepening markets	52	(5)
Implementing ideas and decisions	57	(4)
Closing the participatory gap	61	(4)
Network Management	65	(26)
Getting the network off the ground	65	(5)
Balancing adequate consultation and goal delivery	70	(2)
Securing sustainable funding	72	(2)
Maintaining the ``structure'' in structured informality	74	(1)
Finding allies outside one's sector	75	(2)
Tackling the dual challenge of inclusion	77	(14)
Networks and the United Nations	91	(22)
From vision to reality: a three-track approach	93	(3)
Roles for the United Nations in GPP networks	96	(7)
Making the United Nations fit for GPP networks	103	(10)
Conclusion	113	(6)
Appendix 1. Acronyms and Abbreviations	119	(2)
Appendix 2. Case Studies of the UN Vision Project on Global Public Policy Networks	121	(2)
Appendix 3. Workshop Participants	123	(10)
Appendix 4. Bibliography	133	(6)
Network theory, collaboration, and partnership	133	(1)
International organizations, change, and learning	134	(1)
Management and networks	134	(1)
Knowledge management	135	(1)
Civil society and governance	135	(1)
The private sector and transnational relations	136	(1)
Social capital	137	(1)
Publications by the staff of the UN Vision Project on Global Public Policy Networks	138	(1)
Appendix 5. The Authors, the Publisher, and the Sponsor	139