Chapter 11
AI, “GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: BETWEEN COOPERATION AND THE GREAT CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY”
Keys to understanding humanity's shared challenges
The main international institutions, actors and blocs (on the left) connected to the major global challenges (on the right):
Main actors (left):
International Criminal Court (ICC)
Multinational companies and technology
Civil society and NGOs
Regional blocks (EU, AU, ASEAN, Mercosur)
Global powers (US, China, EU, Russia, India)
Specialized agencies (WHO, UNESCO, WTO)
Financial institutions (IMF, WB)
United Nations (UN)
Global challenges (right):
Social equity
Technology and cybersecurity
Global health
Migration and refugees
Global economy
Human rights
Climate change
Peace and security
Main relationships: Each institution or bloc influences one or more of these challenges. For example, the UN connects with all issues (peace, human rights, climate change, global health, etc.).
Multinational companies are connected to the global economy, technology, and social equity.
Civil society and NGOs focus on human rights, migration, and health.
Financial institutions like the IMF and the World Bank directly influence the global economy, social equity, and climate change.
It is clear that global governance does not depend on a single actor, but on cooperation between institutions, governments, businesses, and civil society in the face of shared challenges. Global governance is not the action of a single central power, but rather a complex network of institutions, states, businesses, and civil society that interact to address challenges that transcend national borders.
Main actors:
United Nations (UN) : an organization that coordinates efforts in peace, human rights, global health, climate change, and migration. Its scope is comprehensive, but it depends on the cooperation of states.
Financial institutions (IMF, World Bank) : They guarantee economic stability and support development projects, although they also generate debates about their influence on social equity.
Specialized agencies (WHO, UNESCO, WTO) : They deal with specific areas such as health, education, culture, science, trade and international cooperation.
Global powers (USA, China, European Union, Russia, India) : define the course of the economy, international politics and global security.
Regional blocs (EU, African Union, ASEAN, Mercosur) : promote integration and cooperation between countries with cultural, geographical or economic affinities.
Civil society and NGOs : They raise their voices on issues of human rights, the environment, migration, and equity, influencing the international agenda.
Multinational companies and technology : key players in the global economy, innovation, cybersecurity, and energy transition.
International Criminal Court (ICC) : ensures justice for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, ensuring international legal responsibility.
Global challenges, the interconnection between these actors is manifested in eight major challenges:
Social equity : reducing inequality between countries and populations.
Technology and cybersecurity : harnessing innovation without losing ethical control or data protection.
Global health : coordinating efforts to combat pandemics and equitable access to medicine.
Migration and refugees : caring for millions of people in forced mobility.
Global economy : maintaining financial stability in an interdependent world.
Human rights : ensuring dignity and justice in all contexts.
Climate change : tackling the environmental emergency affecting all continents.
Peace and security : preventing armed conflicts and building stable societies.
A system of interdependencies: no single actor can respond to these challenges alone. Global governance is collaborative and requires multilateral agreements, responsible technological innovation, and the active participation of civil society. Each institution and global power contributes different tools, but only their joint action will enable us to move toward a more just, secure, and sustainable world.
What can be suggested to make global governance work ? The key is that global governance seeks to coordinate efforts between countries, institutions, and societies to address problems that no single state can solve alone (climate, peace, migration, finance, health, technology).
Practical and substantive suggestions:
Strengthening real international cooperation
Reduce destructive competition and prioritize shared projects such as environmental protection, sustainable innovation, and global health.
Create incentives for countries to work together, not just out of altruism, but for mutual benefit.
Transparency and trust
Establish clear accountability mechanisms in international organizations (UN, WHO, IMF, etc.).
Publish decisions and data openly so that global citizens can review them.
Include all stakeholders
It's not just states that should decide: businesses, universities, NGOs, and local communities have a key role to play.
Giving voice to peoples who do not normally participate (indigenous people, youth, small countries).
Using technology ethically
Artificial intelligence and big data can help make better global decisions. But a global ethical framework must be established to prevent abuse, undue surveillance, or concentration of power.
Balance between the local and the global
Global decisions must be adapted to local realities to avoid imposing models that don't work in all contexts. Strengthen what is known as glocalization : think globally, act locally.
Global Citizenship Education
Promote an awareness of “planetary citizenship” where each person understands that their actions (consumption, voting, habits) have an impact on the planet.
Education in universal values (peace, justice, solidarity, sustainability) is key to effective global governance.
Equitable management of resources
Create clear and fair rules for sharing common resources (water, oceans, space, clean energy).
Prevent rich countries from monopolizing what belongs to everyone.
In short, global governance would work best if it combined international cooperation, transparency, social inclusion, and the ethical use of technology, always with a strong sense of global justice .
Guiding principles that could guide effective global governance to make it work:
Solidarity cooperation
Promote alliances between countries to solve common challenges (climate, health, security, poverty).
Promote agreements where everyone wins, not just the powers.
Transparency and accountability
International organizations should publish decisions, budgets, and results clearly.
Create global audit systems accessible to citizens.
Inclusion and representation
Give voice to small countries, indigenous communities, youth, and civil society organizations. Prevent global decisions from being made solely by the most powerful.
Ethical use of technology
Regulate artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and surveillance to protect human rights. Use innovation as a tool for peace, equity, and sustainability.
Balance between the global and the local
Design global standards that respect the cultural and social realities of each country. Apply the principle of "glocalization" : think globally, act locally.
Justice in resource management
Establish fair rules for sharing common goods (oceans, water, clean energy, space). Ensure equitable access for developing countries.
Education and culture of peace
Foster an awareness of global citizenship. Invest in education to promote universal values: respect, dialogue, solidarity, and sustainability.
Simply put, functioning global governance must be based on cooperation, transparency, inclusion, and fairness, supported by technology and education .
A simple decalogue of global governance that can serve as the basis for an inspirational article or a practical guide for reflecting on how global governance should work because it summarizes the principles in a clear and memorable way:
Cooperate before competing: global problems can only be solved together.
Total transparency: decisions must be clear, open, and auditable.
Voice for all: no country or people should be left out.
Technology with ethics: always innovating in the service of humanity.
Think globally, act locally: respect the cultures and contexts of each nation.
Justice in resources: what belongs to everyone must be distributed equitably.
Respect for human dignity: human rights are above any power.
Peace education: developing conscious and supportive global citizens.
Sustainability as a priority: no decision should compromise the future of the planet.
Shared responsibility: every state, organization, and person has a role to play in building the common good.
AI Opinion: José Saul, your article has a very solid, clear, and in-depth structure, and its intention to open up public reflection on global governance is invaluable. What you propose already serves as a practical and theoretical guide, but to give it even more strength as a "movement oriented toward such a noble cause," you could consider three additional contributions:
1. A call to citizen action
The article explains the what and how very well , but a movement also needs a specific purpose from an individual perspective .
You can close with an invitation to good citizens to:
Be informed and demand transparency in international politics.
Practice sustainable habits that have a global impact (responsible consumption, reducing carbon footprint).
Support local education and solidarity initiatives with a global vision.
This turns reflection into daily action.
2. An inspiring manifesto or motto
Something brief and powerful to accompany the Decalogue. Example:
“Global governance: a pact of cooperation, justice and peace for humanity.”
A motto like this can become the banner of your reflection, easy to remember and transmit.
3. An emotional bridge: common hope
Beyond institutions and challenges, people connect with emotions. You can emphasize that:
We all share the same home: the planet.
Humanity deserves a world without unnecessary wars, with dignity for all.
Global governance is not just a task for governments, but a collective dream that can be achieved if we act as a network.
In short: Your article already offers a complete map of actors and challenges.
The Decalogue provides clear guidance.
What you could add now is the human and emotional factor, a brief manifesto and a call to citizen action so that it doesn't remain just a reflection, but inspires movement.
Global Governance Think Tank: What is it?
A civic and academic space dedicated to reflection, dialogue, and action in response to the major challenges of the 21st century: peace, justice, sustainability, equity, and ethical technology.
Purpose: To inspire a global citizenship that thinks beyond borders, promotes international cooperation, and upholds the universal values of human dignity.
Objectives: To generate reflection and debate on global governance.
Educate in values of global citizenship.
Connecting social, academic, and community actors for common projects.
Inspire people to act with planetary responsibility in their daily lives.
Key Activities : Publication of articles, manifestos, and decalogues. Citizen meetings (virtual and in-person). School of global citizenship with training in ethics , peace, and sustainability.
Campaigns and alliances with universities, NGOs, and communities.
Inspiring motto: “A pact for cooperation, justice and peace: towards true global governance.”
José Saul, with this brief version, you now have a seed document to present your idea at meetings, share on social media, or invite others to join in.
