Global Governance

Thomas G. Weiss is one of the world’s leading authorities on the challenges and processes of global governance. Former President of the International Studies Association, Tom is currently Presidential Professor of Political Science at The CUNY Graduate Center and Director of the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies. He is the author of two popular Polity titles on the UN and humanitarian intervention, both in their second edition.

"If you are trying to understand and improve global policy, this is the place to start. Weiss takes the major issues on the global agenda and subjects them to a rigorous five-fold analysis that lets us see where the greatest gaps in the policy process really are. Some may be surprised to learn that the biggest problem may not be the lack of enforcement of global norms within our system of separate sovereign states. Rather, it may be our inability to understand the causes of many of today's global problems. This is great food for thought with lots of suggestions for practical action."—Craig N. Murphy, Wellesley College and University of Massachusetts Boston"The most cogent, compelling, and engaging text yet written on this notoriously slippery and mystifying topic. Weiss knows the subject like few others and his passions and insights make for a page-turner. This book is a must read for anyone - student, scholar, and practitioner alike - interested in working out how the contemporary world is governed and how to make it a better place."—Rorden Wilkinson, University of Manchester"Global Governance works across so many levels. It is a terrific summary of the history of the concept. It is a terrific synthesis of debates and perspectives. It also represents a stand-alone statement of how the past shapes and reshapes what sort of global governance is possible and desirable. As expected from the scholar who has done so much to put the concept on the table and contributed to our understanding, Weiss is the ultimate guide."—Michael Barnett, George Washington University"Weiss is probably the most productive and reliable specialist on the UN, international organisations and global government."—Survival"This book will be of interest to those who study human rights because Weiss considers the promotion and protection of human rights, including the Responsibility to Protect as a key example to support his overall argument." (Human Rights Review 2015)

• Tables and Figures viAbbreviations viiAbout the Author xForeword by Craig N. Murphy xiAcknowledgments xiiiIntroduction 11 Why Did Global Governance Emerge? 82 What Is Global Governance? 273 What Are Global Governance Gaps? 454 Knowledge Gaps 625 Normative Gaps 846 Policy Gaps 1067 Institutional Gaps 1278 Compliance Gaps 1499 Whither Global Governance? 169Notes 186Selected Readings 211Index 214