07 January 2007

GPPi contributes to conference on legitimacy of global networks

GPPi Associate Director Thorsten Benner participated in a conference on "legitimacy and effectiveness of transnational networks" that took place in Berlin on 8-9 December 2006. The conference was convened by Marianne Beisheim (Free University of Berlin) and Klaus Dingwerth (University of Bremen). It was organized and hosted by the Collaborative Research Center "Governance in Areas of Limited Statehood" at the Free University Berlin.

One of the goals of the conference was to determine the role of input legitimacy (an inclusive and transparent process) for the success of multi-actor networks and partnerships. Thorsten Benner’s contribution focused on the Kimberley Process. He argued that while the Kimberley Process scores fairly high in terms of inclusiveness and transparency of the process, other factors were much more decisive for the success of the process: diamonds as the ultimate reputation-sensitive luxury good; effective civil society pressure on a quasi-monopolist; a confluence of ethical and business interests on the part of De Beers (which was reviewing its "buyer of last resort" policy); leadership by both Western countries (Great Britain and the US) and an African regional power (South Africa); plus a very effective division of roles and responsibilities between the UN, states, the private sector and NGOs in the Kimberley Process negotiations.

For more information please contact Thorsten Benner.

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