Models of Global Governance

Global Governance is a broad dynamic and complex process of interactive decision making at a global level, that involves formal and informal mechanisms as well as governments and NGO's.

Alternative Configurations of Global Politics

International Anarchy

- the conventional model dating back to the emergence of the treaty of Westphalia in 1648

- is one of the core assumptions of realist theory

- the central feature of this model is the absence of a supranational body that is capable of  regulating the behaviour of states, as a result states are forced to rely on self help for survival and security

- consequently, the international system tends to be viewed as dynamic and prone to conflict as a result of the fear and uncertainty created by the security dilema

- however, this does not mean that states are always engaged in war, but that periods of peace will develop as a result of a balance of power, during this period a state seeks to maximise security rather than maximising power through conquest.

Criticisms

- since 1945 countries within international organisations, have demonstrated a capacity for sustainable cooperative behaviour based on increased trust and reciprocity. For example, the level of co-operation achieved in the EU defies all assumptions of realist theory, leading to some such as Bull, to label the current system a "anarchical society"

Global Hegemony

- states are equal in terms of their entitlement to sovereignty, but are highly unequal in terms of their resources and capacities.

- therefore hegemonic states (states which possess pre-eminent…