No. 13 - April 2009

Greetings !

We are pleased to announce the launch of a number of new undertakings including two new projects in the field of global energy governance: a research project on "OPEC at 50: Between Power and Impotence" which explains OPEC's history and develops an understanding of the organizations role and potential in the 21st century as well as a research project entitled, "Common Objective, Diverging Regimes? Prospects and Challenges in Building a Global Carbon Market".

Our newsletter appears three times a year to keep you informed about the institute, to post our newest publications, and to share interesting recent news on global public policy-making. In this edition’s “Global Issues in the News” section, we focus on the G20 Summit and Nuclear Non-proliferation. For more information, please visit our homepage at www.gppi.net

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Research

Common Objective, Diverging Regimes?
Prospects and Challenges in Building a Global Carbon Market

"Towards Global Partnerships": Development of the Secretary-General’s Report

Public-Private Partnerships for Education

OPEC at 50: Between Power and Impotence

Raising the Bar
Enhancing transatlantic governance of disaster relief and preparedness

Changing Rules of the Game
Global Energy Governance in the 21st Century

Learning to Build Peace?
The United Nations, Peacebuilding and Organizational Learning

The European Union, China, and Global Governance
Perceptions, Misperceptions, and Convergences

EU Foreign Policy Towards China
The Institutional Politics of Cooperation

The New Protectorates
International Administration and the Dilemmas of Governance

Crisis and Change
The UN Secretariat and the Quest for Accountability

'Brusselisation' and the emergence of a strategic culture in the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP)

Learning to Build the Rule of Law?
The Evolution of Police and Judicial Reform in EU Peace Operations 

Consulting

UNICEF Global Strategy for Collaborative Relationships and Partnerships

Networking United Nations Private Sector Focal Points

Implementing the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the Gender Standby Capacity Project (Gencap)

Debate

Transatlantic Energy Security Dialogues

Global Atlanticists

Transatlantic Dialogues on Humanitarian Action

Topic 1

1. Financial Stability Forum decides to broaden its membership
By: Press Release, Financial Stability Forum, 12 March 2009

Summary: At its plenary meeting in London, the Financial Stability Forum (FSF) decided to broaden its membership to include those G20 countries that were not already part of the Forum. Established in 1999, the Forum consists of major national financial authorities who facilitate international financial stability through enhanced information exchange, international cooperation in financial market cooperation and market surveillance.

According to this press release the decision by the FSF to include all the G20 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Turkey, will increase the FSF’s ability to contribute to the ongoing reforms of the global financial system and strengthen the institutional foundations of the Forum.

2. After G-20, Emerging-Market Banks May Inherit The Earth
By: Christopher Thompson and Steve Culp, Forbes, 1 April 2009

Summary: The global economic crisis is affecting the financial sector of all nations and as this article suggests, the greatest damage has been concentrated with a few banks in developed economies. This article argues that the new reality is one in which the stable economic health and strong banking systems of emerging-markets such as China, India and Brazil will gain increased voting power in the International Monetary Fund and in shaping global financial regulations. The days where a few of the traditional banks could dictate global financial regulations may be over.

This article calls for traditional financial leaders to focus on long-term strategies that will restore trust and loyalty in their customers and return their banks to a level playing field on which to compete with their new competitors. The strategies will have to include stricter regulations and better risk management if traditional banks are to remain competitive against those of the emerging-markets.

3. The quest for a global solution is misguided
By: Razeen Sally, Financial Times, 18 March 2009

Summary: This article argues that the global financial crisis has turned ideas away from free markets in favour of more global governance. The gathering of the leaders of the G20 member states played a crucial role in promoting global co-operation, containing protectionism and giving emerging-markets more say in shaping the reform of global financial regulations. However, the article warns that placing faith solely in global governance is wishful thinking.

Rather, the article argues that the G20 Summit is unlikely to be more than a “chat forum given to non-binding pledges”. Any policy reform must stem from leading nations. This would mean the US, European Union and China. Unilateral measures will be needed to address the domestic market but this should not hinder intergovernmental co-operation. The article suggests “bottom-up reinforcement of sound policies at home, not an exercise in top-down global governance”.

Topic 2

1. A Recipe for Survival
By: Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency, 16 February 2009

Summary: This article argues that while the nuclear non-proliferation regime is facing unprecedented challenges since the end of the Cold War, there is now a renewed sense of hope in saving this multilateral institution. With President Obama’s pledge to seek “a world free of nuclear weapons”, the article calls for action before the new enthusiasm fizzles out.

Noting the increased likelihood of nuclear weapons to be used, the proliferation of nuclear black markets and the modernization of nuclear weapons by the nuclear weapon states, the article puts forward several suggestions for pushing forward the nuclear non-proliferation agenda. These include: bringing into force the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT); negotiating the successor for the START treaty between Russia and the US; increasing the mandate of the International Atomic Emergency Agency; and to reform the UN Security Council “to reflect the world of today and not of 1945”. 

2. Learning to love the bomb
By: Adam B. Lowther, The Boston Globe, 18 March 2009

Summary: This article suggests that 2009 will mark a historical shift in the US nuclear weapons policy under the Obama administration. This year alone will witness a new US Nuclear Posture Review; the expiration of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty; and further nuclear arms reduction by the US in accordance with the Strategic Offence Reduction Treaty signed with Russia.

Nonetheless, the article warns nuclear abolitionists against the failure to understand the complete strategic role nuclear weapons play in ensuring US sovereignty. The article puts forth five main points as to why nuclear weapons are a fundamental aspect to US national security. It also urges the Obama administration to take these points into consideration before deciding to cut the US nuclear arsenal by half. 

3. Nuclear arms in the developing world: Obama must change the perception among developing countries that nuclear proliferation does not affect them
By: Andrew Grotto, The Guardian, 6 April 2009

Summary: After years of the Bush administration’s a la carte approach towards the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime, this article suggests that the Obama administration has an opportunity to put the US back on track towards it nuclear disarmament obligations and preserving the non-proliferation regime. However, a serious challenge will be for the administration to convenience developing countries that nuclear proliferation adversely affects them and developed countries alike. 

The article points out that developing countries have their own priority issues such as poverty, domestic security and regional affairs, meanwhile nuclear proliferation is seen as a rich country problem. The Obama administration will therefore need to seek creative ways to change this threat perception in order to get these countries on board the nuclear non-proliferation agenda. While the cost of implementing this agenda will be heaviest for developing countries, the article offers several suggestions to the Administration for use in changing the perception and assisting developing countries.