In short global governance is a broad dynamic and complex process of interactive decision making at the global level that involves formal and informal mechanisms as well as governmental and non-governmental bodies. The main feature of global governance is, however that states do not lose their sovereignty. Were as in a global government system states do effectively lose there sovereignty. There are many different examples of current global governance systems such as; United Nations and the European Union. Of these two institutions the EU is closer to a World Government as it has some sovereign jurisdiction over its member states i.e. fishing regulations. Where as the UN is a global governance system as it has no real power and can only in fact make suggestions to states such as when the USA invaded Iraq in 2003 it stated that the invasion was illegal but nothing ever and has ever come out of stating this.
Arguments for and against Global Governance systems
There is no doubting that these systems are and can be used as a mechanism to help promote global peace and security. For example although there has been many failures regarding the UN. There have also been many peacekeeping successes such as East Timor. Even though this may only be a small nation as we have seen in Syria a small nation can quickly turn into an international conflict zone. Not only this but the growing interdependence of the worlds economy has led to the development of institutions such as the World Trade Organization, although this has been set up to help the process of globalization they can also be used as mechanism for world peace as the material costs of War are becoming more developed and particularly for developing nations. Both these factors above are therefore reasons for a global governance system.
On the other side of the argument however there is the fact that it can be said that these systems promote the neo-liberal ideology and will only benefit those states who have an impact on international affairs particularly when it comes to economic status. This is then an argument against a global governance system as it reduces the sovereignty of the state. Which is more importantly a fully elected body in most countries or even those nations that are not democratic it could be argued that the government has some consent from the people. As said above this systems will only have a benefit for those at the top and it will cause an even greater gap between the North and the South as if its not big enough already? This rising inequality can only then lead to increases in global tensions therefore making a system of global governance detrimental to the world and not a positive thing.
Is a global governance system now a reality?
In mind you cannot say that a global governance system is not in place in the modern era as there are many institutions that are used to create interaction between nation states in order to increase cooperation on a global level. However I do feel that in fact these organizations do not do that much regarding global issues and they are in fact used as a way for the dominate nations to continue in this way. Although to a certain extent a global governance system does bring nations closer together on a decision making level and therefore leading to peace between certain nations. I do feel that those smaller nations (West Africa) are being left out in the cold and in fact it is only causing more problems and tensions in these areas.
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