Many global institutions have worked well for a long time, but changes of many kinds have produced a need for reform.
First the economic and political balance is changing and so must the ways we cooperate on a global level. New players are increasing their influence and/or entering the arena: China, India, Brazil, Europe, Africa, Arabian/Muslim …..
We need institutions for military/peacekeeping operations, politics, economics and finance, including an international bank, trade, climate/pollution questions, competition fairness – especially between multinationals.
How do we empower the institutions and how do we best choose the countries to represent us? Do we start with a UN-like organisation and develop it from there or do we let the biggest nations take the lead? How important should future G7 or 8 meetings be, do we practice loose consultations or do we formalise the processes?
Transparency and predictability are necessary, as well as wide willingness to participate and wide acceptance of agreements.
There are institutions on many levels today – Nordic and other regional, European, Asian, the Americas etc. which undoubtedly can handle many questions arising.
What can be done in relation to power structures, via active politics?
Elements of power: Economical, political, military, cultural
October 2008: New financial system needed says Gordon Brown:
Only through global cooperation can we restore confidence and rebuild the international system of finance. He wants a meeting with world leaders to draw up a new financial architecture – like at Bretton Woods in 1944.
Efforts at international economic cooperation on a large scale have not been very successful earlier. The role of the US has diminished and the new players are not ready yet?