David Lucido 10/17/13
Homework #6: Discussion Question Mrs. Hsu
Discuss and analyze the ways in which global governance is and is not effective. Throughout recent history, the topic of global governance and its benefits/hindrances has been heavily debated. Global governance, or the political/economic interaction of transnational actors aimed at solving problems involving multiple nations, has played a tremendous role in international conflict resolution in the modern era. With the creation of establishments like the World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, and the United Nations, many have begun to question the impact that global governance organizations might have on the world. The general goal of these assemblies is simply to securing peace, strengthening international trade, and improving impoverished nations across the globe. While some have arguably unfavorable results, it is undeniable that they are effective, seeing as the vast majority of nations has joined among the ranks of these global groups. As organizations global governance begin to ease their way into the world, many have grown concerned about the ways that global laws/regulations are implemented. While there is traditionally no feasible way for a global agency to fully enforce compliance with the law through “hard” power, these organizations find ways to control what they can. The International Monetary Fund (I.M.F.), for instance, imposes their will by demanding that those who take their loans must comply with their demands. Many nations that take the organization’s loans are on the brink of collapse, and often have no other option, so they comply with the I.M.F.’s demands. Global governance organizations like the I.M.F. are heavily criticized and protested for these methods. However, whether or not these practices are just, they are undeniably effective. On the lighter side of the global governance spectrum, the World Bank has managed to be effective while maintaining predominantly positive approval from its peers. They have done this through working with boots on the ground in each nation to reduce poverty, pollution, and to increase economic stability. Somewhere between the morality of the World Bank and the I.M.F. lies the World Trade Organization (W.T.O.). This organization has also managed to prove itself as an effective form of global governance. It has done this through aiding in the formation of trade partnerships and settling trade disputes throughout the globe. The W.T.O. has also created a system of checking the credibility of a nation’s trade record. Despite much criticism for its neutrality in terms of a nation’s pollution and ignorance of child labor laws, it has remained a largely effective device in global governance. Organizations of global governance do have a significant portion of ineffective systems. One in particular, the United Nations, has undergone much scrutiny due to its numerous oversights in global governance. Although they have done a notable amount of peacekeeping in the world, they hold many flaws, including the inability of their troops to discharge their weapons. They are also, for the most part, unable to enforce their laws on their own. It is often taken into the hands of a nation or handful of nations to solve their difficulties. Granted, the U.N. has aided in establishing friendly relations between nations throughout the world, it still contains the major flaw that it is unable to bring about a strong intervention of any kind to support their sanctions/laws. Overall, the global governance system has a long road ahead of it. However, it remains effective for the most part. While organizations like the U.N. continue to encompass faults, the majority of them have succeeded in progressing towards their goals. Despite the overall effectiveness of global governance organizations, there continues to be the problem in the morality of these groups. It may lead one to question whether the world values efficiency over moral righteousness. In the near future, we will see whether systems like the I.M.F. and the W.T.O. will continue their path of arguably morally unjustifiable behavior.

Bibliography 1. Hsu, Sara. "Economics of Globalization Notes." Blackboard. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2013.
<https://blackboard.newpaltz.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_3_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_78762_1%26url%3D>.
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