The world is besieged by global challenges but lacks the collective ability to adequately respond to them. Global rules, norms and institutions are increasingly under strain. Yet multilateral initiatives too often end in deadlock as dominant states bend the rules to suit their interests. Many stakeholders share the view that the international order has failed to deliver, mostly because it is ineffective and undemocratic. But while some conclude it needs to be abandoned and replaced by something else, others – including many within civil society – believe it needs to be reformed and strengthened.
To support the EU’s efforts to revitalise the multilateral system by preserving and reinforcing elements that work, reforming those that do not, and extending global governance to new areas, the initial exploratory phase of ENSURED encompassed a series of consultations with civil society stakeholders. The objective of these was to test the conceptual framework that will guide our work in different thematic areas, focusing on three core characteristics of global governance: robustness, effectiveness, and democracy.
In our preliminary definitions, robustness refers to whether institutions and norms can withstand existential challenges. Effectiveness focuses on whether global governance regimes achieve the goals they were established for. And democracy encompasses the equal representation of states and the participation of non-state actors, including civil society.
This report presents the main findings from our consultations with civil society, many of which have led to interviews published on the CIVICUS Lens interview hub. We are grateful to the many civil society activists, leaders, and experts who shared their insights and expertise. The analysis contained in this report would not be possible without them.
Citation recommendation: Pousadela, Inés. 2024. “Civil Society Perspectives on Global Governance Reform.” ENSURED Research Report, no. 5 (September 2024): 1–24. https://www.ensuredeurope.eu
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