the Unknown of Global Governance

Will Britain leave the European Union? Will BRICS formulate a new world currency? What is the next Trans Pacific Partnership deal or Multilateral Agreement on Investment? Who will be the next sitting government leader to go to trial and be convicted? Each of these questions deal with the balance of power and control single countries must grapple with. As each of us forge ahead into the unknown we build what we think is better. Reality has shocked us with the unintended consequences of our actions. For example we have the debate of control and power between governments and multinational corporations. There is also the debate about whether countries who stand for democracy actually are democratic. Then there are countries that define themselves one way yet act in complete contradiction to their own proclaimed identity. Aside from the governments we must be aware of the wild card factors. Those being non-state actors, terrorist organizations, non-government organizations and the one percent of extremely wealthy individuals around the world. Due to all of these influences the topic of global governance has been an idealistic and cumbersome discussion. You would think that the ideology of having one set of rules would be an easy one to implement. Yet for whatever reason it has eluded us due to the desire to have control and individuality. However we have heard arguments of multinational corporations having more power than a governments. This was a main opposition point for the Multilateral Agreement on Investment in the late 1990’s. The same is being said about the Trans Pacific Partnership. Identity and control are the two main points which fuel the debate concerning the European Union and what is known as BREXIT. Such exercises are necessary and useful when it comes to experiments with large regional/global partnerships. We must be willing to step into the unknown at times just to see what happens. It is that point which the global governance issue is centered upon, at least in my thoughts.

Chadian dictator sentenced

This week we witnessed the sentencing of former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre to life in prison for crime against humanity, war crimes and other deeds of utter stupidity. As we forge ahead in building a world that is peaceful, orderly and governed with great wisdom and compassion, there will be many more leaders sentenced. We are not there yet but the road is being built. This is the next step in a long journey towards our dreams of a just society. At moments such as these the victims of these crimes have some consolation yet must still deal with the reality of the past. Each person has a singular journey to travel yet they can find some comfort in the knowledge that the world is slowly getting things set right. In many of the wars taking place right now, there are such actors as Hissene Habre. Bringing these people to account is a challenge. Due to the creation of the International Criminal Court a large step was made. Now we have a former head of state being charged. At some point we knew this was going to happen. There have been many other leaders charged but only a very few brought to trial or convicted or sentenced. Leaders such as Ghaddaffi faced a different court, as did Saddam Hussein. These types of courts are not what is desired in a peaceful world but they are a reality we must be aware of them, even if they are rife with corruption. With International Justice day approaching on 16July, we need to look at what is being built for a better tomorrow.