For Global Peace and Justice: China’s Proposal of Global Governance based on Principles and Equality II
Dr. Syed Mehboob
Senior Business and Political Analyst
http//: www.thenewslark.com
Email:[email protected]
The unipolar system, hegemony created by a country with the help of its allies, jeopardized global peace and security, and it is self-explanatory. They not only paved the way for war and violence but also started unnecessary and unscrupulous tariff wars and backed their international commitments. They have single-mindedly sought to build “small yards with high walls” or “parallel systems”, and have overstretched the concept of national security to suppress and contain the economic and technological progress of other countries. These retrogressive actions violate the principles of the market economy, trample on the rules of free trade, and severely disrupt the international economic order. Humanity now faces several crucial questions. Fairness and justice, or the law of the jungle? Openness and mutual benefit, or isolation and confrontation? The rule of law, or power politics? At this historical crossroads, we must be responsible and make the right choice.
The UN is the most comprehensive, representative, and authoritative international organization, and the UN-centered international system plays an irreplaceable and vital role in global governance. Over time, however, the current global governance system has become increasingly incompatible and misaligned with the realities of today and the evolving international landscape, and its shortcomings and deficiencies are growing ever more pronounced. The UN’s authority is challenged. Disregarding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, a certain major power has withdrawn from international organizations and agreements, defunded key bodies, blocked Security Council resolutions, and paralyzed the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) dispute settlement mechanism. These actions have seriously disrupted the international order and caused further damage to multilateral mechanisms, eroding the foundation of trust in multilateral cooperation. The effectiveness of multilateral institutions is in urgent need of improvement. As some countries refuse to fulfill their responsibilities and obligations, multilateral agendas are often left discussed but undecided, or decided but not implemented. Efforts must therefore focus on improving the operational efficiency, emergency response capabilities, and transparency of multilateral institutions such as the UN. At the same time, the existence of governance gaps in emerging fields including artificial intelligence, cyberspace, and outer space – also demands attention. The UN’s representation is critically inadequate. To maintain their hegemony and protect their own interests, some countries have long obstructed the reform
process of the UN and its agencies, causing significant delays in reforms such as the IMF quota and World Bank shareholding. Developing countries remain underrepresented, and their voices insufficiently heard.
The current governance system is certainly not perfect, but it needs neither to be dismantled and rebuilt in full, nor replaced entirely by a new system. Instead, as an international community, we must focus on reforming and improving the existing system to make it more compatible and aligned with the world’s realities, addressing governance shortcomings from a developmental perspective, and responding to the call of the times with a vision for progress.
The Global South is a vital force in seeking peace, pursuing development, and
promoting cooperation, and its collective rise represents human progress. To stabilize and improve the world, the international community needs to be more responsive to the concerns of the Global South in international affairs and fully leverage its role. The Global South has grown remarkably strong. After World War II, national independence and liberation movements swept across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, dismantling the global colonial system. The number of UN member states has increased from 51 at its founding in 1945 to 193 today. Based on purchasing power parity, the Global South now makes up over 60 percent of the world economy and contributes 80 percent to global economic growth, with multiple hubs of development across various regions. The monopolization of international affairs by a small number of countries is no longer sustainable, and long-standing historical injustices must be redressed.
This rise has brought a new dynamic to global governance. BRICS has undergone a historic expansion, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has become the largest regional intergovernmental organization in terms of territory and population. Together, they are playing a positive role in the development and reform of the global governance system. The G20 has become the premier platform for global economic governance, with emerging economies now accounting for more than half of its membership. Championing fairness and justice, the G77 and China have deepened South-South cooperation. Meanwhile, Global South countries have hosted a series of multilateral summits, contributing their share to global governance and leaving their imprint. The times call for a model of global governance that is more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable. The process of securing greater respect for the Global South countries’ rights to development, voice, and decision-making in international affairs will mark a historic journey towards a more dynamic, effective, and hopeful global governance system.
The Global Governance Initiative upholds the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and embraces a global governance vision characterized by extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits. It is built on five core concepts: sovereign equality, the international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and real actions. By addressing the crux and root causes of crises and challenges, the initiative provides sound guidance for building a more just and equitable global governance system.
Sovereign equality is enshrined in the UN Charter as the first principle and the supreme norm governing state-to-state relations. Countries, whether large or small, strong or weak, developed or developing, are equal members of the international community. Every nation’s sovereignty and dignity must be respected, and all countries are equally entitled to participate in, deliberate on, and benefit from global governance. Equality is the premise of state-to-state relations. Countries should, in the spirit of mutual respect, conduct consultations on an equal footing and manage their differences appropriately. Major countries should lead by example in honoring equality, good faith, and cooperation, rather than leveraging their position of strength to engage in hegemonic, high-handed, and abusive acts. If allowed to deviate from the principle of sovereign equality, international relations would degenerate into a game among powers, and international law would become groundless, leaving the world in perpetual chaos. Sovereign equality is an essential requirement for solidarity against challenges. The future of all nations is bound by shared interests, common challenges, and collective responsibilities. Global governance cannot be dominated by a select few developed nations. Only when all countries participate equally can all sides build the political trust essential for solidarity and collaboration; only in this way can the resulting rules and decisions receive extensive recognition and rest on solid legal ground. This is the necessary approach to reaching broad consensus and creating powerful synergy. Equality and inclusiveness are the inexorable progress in the evolution of the global governance system.
Coexistence in diversity is a fundamental characteristic of human society, and multipolarity is vital to the evolving international landscape. A global governance system that is more representative, inclusive, and beneficial to all is
an irreversible trend, and equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal rules are the shared aspirations of all peoples. Hegemony and power politics that run counter to the tide of history are destined to fail.
The international rule of law is the fundamental safeguard for global governance. Only a global governance system that is grounded in the rule of law can provide all countries with a fair and just environment for development, achieve a balance between rights and obligations, and make international order more just and equitable. Rigorously enforcing the international rule of law is rooted in upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Confrontation and injustice in today’s world do not arise because the UN Charter is outdated, but because it is not effectively implemented. (continued)
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