On October 17, 2024, the first session of the new semester for the required course “Creative and Innovative Policy Analysis for Decision-Making Elites” in the Tsinghua-SAIS Dual Master’s Degree in Global Politics and Economics program was delivered by Dr. Jacint Jordana, a Professor of Political Science and Public Administration at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona and President of the Barcelona Institute of International Studies. Professor Jordana engaged the program’s scholars in an in-depth discussion on institutional transformations in global governance, focusing on the critical challenges faced by international organizations.
At the beginning of the lecture, Professor Jordana led the scholars in mapping the complex landscape of global governance across sectors such as trade, security, finance, and the environment, along with the shared challenges faced by international organizations. In the current context, the dominance of traditional international organizations is being challenged by a variety of actors. Meanwhile, the overlapping and interconnected nature of global issues across multiple domains, coupled with institutional challenges within international organizations, is affecting their capacity to make decisions and achieve their goals. Based on these observations, Professor Jordana emphasized the need for international organizations to gradually adapt to the fragmented global governance landscape, develop innovative governance approaches, and enhance their responsiveness.
The professor explored the diversification of global governance structures in the fields of security, trade, the environment, and finance. The level of participation by state and non-state actors varies across these domains. In trade, the WTO remains dominant, but regional organizations such as the EU, MERCOSUR, and ASEAN are becoming increasingly important. Meanwhile, the influence of non-state actors, such as multinational corporations and NGOs, continues to rise. Trade governance is also closely linked to non-trade issues like sustainable development and human rights, complicating unified institutional governance. In security, while the UN retains a central position, its effectiveness is increasingly questioned, and regional organizations like NATO and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) are playing more prominent roles. In the environmental field, global governance is characterized by multi-actor and decentralized trends. While the UNFCCC remains a key player, non-state actors like cities, NGOs, and corporations also play significant roles. In finance, there is a lack of a dominant intergovernmental organization, with a mix of formal and informal mechanisms contributing to governance. The specialization and fragmentation of this sector makes it challenging to establish a comprehensive global financial governance framework.
International organizations also face common institutional challenges, such as inertia and low levels of institutional autonomy, which hinder their ability to quickly adapt to challenges and reduce the effectiveness of providing global public goods. Geopolitical influences and anti-multilateralism further complicate decision-making, particularly with consensus-based voting mechanisms.
Professor Jordana then introduced the GLOBE project, including a survey conducted in 2021 of over 1,000 international organization staff members. The survey highlighted concerns within these organizations regarding systemic issues. Respondents addressed challenges in decision-making, geopolitical influences, organizational efficiency, overlapping responsibilities, and institutional autonomy. The survey revealed concerns about system reliability, shifts in international power, and the influence of the financial sector. It underscored the importance of organizational autonomy, inter-organizational coordination, and combining traditional and modern governance tools.
Finally, the professor discussed the transformations anticipated in global governance over the next decade, emphasizing the roles of major powers like China and the United States, as well as non-state actors, in shaping governance dynamics. He highlighted the internal adjustments required within institutional frameworks. Professor Jordana predicted that global governance is likely to become more fragmented and decentralized, particularly in sectors like finance, trade, security, and the environment. In this context, overlapping institutions are likely to make coordination more complex. Simultaneously, the rising influence of non-state actors and the emergence of alternative models of global governance is expected to further increase the complexity of future governance. Despite these challenges, according to the survey findings, international organization staff members remain optimistic about overcoming these issues and enhancing the global impact of their organizations.
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