High-Level Expert Group Meeting
4-5 April 2001
The Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Chaired by Malcolm Fraser
Pluralism and Global Governance
The collapse of the Soviet Union has produced a world in
which the United States is overwhelmingly supreme
economically, scientifically, and militarily. This creates
new and serious challenges in the maintenance of global
security. It is important that the actions of states be
governed by ethical standards, and not merely by immediate
political and ideological concerns.
Global Security and the US Role
1. It should be emphasized that unilateralism creates an
inherently unstable political structure, leading to the
largely unrestrained exercise of power. Whether through
direct coercion or more subtle means, such power
represents a serious challenge to individual autonomy as
well as to the independence of states. Unilateral actions
must be avoided and consultation - not only with allies
but also with other significant actors - is absolutely
essential.
2. Globalization in the late 20th and early 21st century
has been a process of increasing interdependence between
states. This process has in many ways been more rapid and
more intensive than in any previous period. While
conferring benefits, globalization also erodes the
sovereignty of nation-states, raising questions about the
optimal structure of stable international
relationships.
3. International interdependence is asymmetrical - the
United States and other wealthy nations have greatly
disproportionate power to influence global events. In this
global system, political and economic convenience often
takes precedence over collective moral principles.
4. Compliance with legal norms of international behavior,
particularly those inscribed in the Charter of the United
Nations and exemplified by the authority of the Security
Council, offers the best hope for continued, peaceful
global development. Simultaneously, it must be realized
that all organizations must adapt to the changing demands
of their environment, and the United Nations should
address the post-Cold War need for adequate responses to
global humanitarian crises. Similarly, the Security
Council and its member states must now demonstrate their
capacity to deal effectively with emerging global
challenges.
5. While some have asserted a right to independent action
without the sanction of the Security Council, this raises
questions about who has the authority to exercise force
outside the framework of the United Nations. Power alone
is no justification for such actions, as it opens the door
to individual intervention and unlimited disorder in many
regions. Authorization for interventions must be
restricted to the Security Council if peace and good order
are to be maintained.
6. The current permanent membership of the Security
Council does not appropriately reflect the balance of
power between nations. Modernization of the Security
Council is therefore important. It would also be necessary
to address the question as to whether additional permanent
members should also have the veto or whether that should
be restricted to the original five permanent members.
7. Fostering regional and sub-regional security
organizations would allow the international community to
coordinate responses to pressing concerns while increasing
local autonomy. Such responses, however, must be managed
within the framework and with the authority of the United
Nations. It should not be overlooked that most existing
regional or sub-regional organizations are currently
inadequate for the challenges they face.
8. When interventions or counter-interventions occur,
greater attention must be given to the consequences of the
intervention in the long-term.
9. Very great concern has been expressed regarding the
proposal by the United States to move forward with a plan
for a National Missile Defense (NMD) system. An
overwhelming majority of experts believes that NMD will
destabilize international security, leading to the real
risk of a renewed global arms race with Russia and other
nuclear powers.
10. NMD has the potential to create the perception of
invulnerability within the United States, which would lead
to undesirable unilateral action. The international
community will likewise feel threatened by such a system,
further decreasing global stability and effective
mechanisms for peaceful cooperation.
11. It is recognized that the United States seeks to play
a stabilizing role in many regions. However, the NMD is
contrary to the long-term interests of the United States
and the promotion of global peace and stability.
12. A preferred alternative to NMD is the renewed pursuit
of non-proliferation and disarmament of all nuclear
states. This effort would be more effective in reaching
the fundamental goal of global peace and security for all
nation states. The lack of progress toward nuclear
disarmament on the part of major nuclear states has itself
encouraged proliferation. Therefore renewed efforts to
achieve disarmament will offer the best prospect for a
peaceful and stable world.
Cultural Globalization
13. In an increasingly globalized community, the survival
of local and regional cultural diversity is an important
concern for both policy makers and the larger public. The
rules of international organizations, including the World
Trade Organization, should not be used to constrain the
scope of governments to encourage such diversity.
14. Government actions to maintain space for their own
national, regional, or local cultures are legitimate. In
shaping cultural policy, governments should seek for ways
of liberating, rather than constraining, individual
choices and economic well-being.
15. To survive, cultures must be dynamic, flexible,
adaptive, and responsive to the new contexts and
environments within which they shape the behavior of
individuals. Adaptability involves raising difficult
questions among the concerned community as to what is
precious and what is expendable.
16. Cultural diversity is a source of strength when
properly managed and encouraged. Appreciation for
different peoples and cultures should be fostered, and the
foundation for cultural exchange between nations should be
equal respect for all cultures. Any attempts to establish
cultural conformity will create conflict and division.
Information Technology and Development
17. The importance of information technology in the
development process must be emphasized. There is concern
at the large and growing 'technology gap' between citizens
of rich and poor nations. The problems of economic
development in Africa, however, are neither aggravated nor
caused by the development of information technology in
industrialized countries.
18. Command and control over information technology will
be one of the keys to global success in the 21st century,
and donor governments should give greater attention to
this issue. International organizations should rapidly
respond to developing countries' need for assistance in
this sector.
19. The greatest challenge to the effective use of
information technology for economic development is the
lack of basic communications infrastructure, particularly
reliable sources of electric power in lesser developed
countries. This threatens to delay further the ability of
poorer nations to access the wealth of information
available through this technological innovation,
exacerbating the growing information divide.
20. The development of adequate IT infrastructure depends
on good governance, and the crucial role of government
should be recognized in the formation and implementation
of an effective IT development strategy.
21. Education is a key benefit that IT can bring to
developing countries. Good political leadership is needed
to take advantage of the possibilities and to make the
right choices.
Global Governance
22. The crucial role of the United Nations in promoting
international cooperation and development should be
strongly supported. It is also suggested that other
international organizations with greater focus, and hence
greater specialization, have proven themselves
particularly successful in addressing the issues arising
from modern globalization. These agencies, however, should
operate within and be accountable to the United
Nations.
23. In responding to global challenges - environment and
health in particular - all states will be required to cede
some degree of autonomy. In designing and reforming
international organizations, an environment should be
created within which global interests can be effectively
represented.
24. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank
continue to play vital roles in developing nations
progress toward industrialization and prosperity. However,
the IMF should focus on macroeconomic management and the
World Bank should direct its attention to sustainable
development, avoiding unnecessary intervention in borrower
states' political decision-making.
25. The United States and other donor states should
recognize that IMF and World Bank lending decisions should
be based on technical criteria, and should refrain
absolutely from using these organizations to pursue
vicariously their own domestic priorities.
26. Leaders worldwide are asked to recognize that all
international organizations are handicapped by inadequate
financial support, and that the success of these
organizations in meeting current and future needs will be
critically hampered by lack of appropriate resources.