THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD (with Peace Studies) Three (3) Main Features of Moderns International

System
Module 5: Contemporary Global Governance
1) The Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 established peace
Introduction
in Europe after decades of conflicts and bloody
 The government, which is an instrumentality wars. National sovereignty is considered the basis of
through the will of the people is expressed, global dialogue, where each country seeking
formulated, and realized. How the government political solutions to their religious problems. A
is being run and managed by the people who norm was established against interference in
are in the government is called governance. another state’s affairs.
2) Congress of Vienna 1815, where European powers
Governance
negotiated the end of two decades of war and
- It relates to the system of interaction and redrawn the political map of the continent. It was
decision-making among the actors involved in the first of series of international meetings that
solving certain issues or problems leading to the came to be known as the Concert of Europe, an
creation, reinforcement or reproduction of attempt to forge a peaceful balance of power in
norms and institutions. Europe.
- However, governance does not only refer to 3) A Multilateral System, including the United
government but may also be undertaken by a Nations. Built largely in the period after the World
market, or network, or over a social system. It is War II, it has antecedents in the postwar period by
a broader term referring to how to solve creating the League of Nations and the International
problems that are faced in any society. Labor Organizations. Conference at Bretton Woods,
New Hampshire developed plans for building a wide
Global Governance
range of universal rules and specialized institutions.
- It is a movement among transnational actors
Roles and Functions of the United Nations
towards political cooperation aimed to solve
issues or problems that affect more than one - The United Nations is the most prominent
state or region. international institution established. It is
- For the record, there is no such thing as global intergovernmental that promotes international
government. Each state has an independent cooperation, and create and maintains
government of which other states cannot and international order. It replaces the ineffective
should not control. To negotiate and enforce League of Nations and was established after
compliance of the agreed norms set forth, World War II on October 24, 1945 to prevent
institutions are created. another global conflict.
- The name “United Nations” was coined by
Roles of International Organizations
United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt
 They are important actors in the critical and first used in the Declaration by United
episodes of international politics, with power in Nations of January 1, 1942, during World War II.
mediation, dispute resolution, peace keeping, When it was founded, it had 50 member states.
applying sanctions and others. - Now it has 193 member states and two
 They also help in managing various key areas of observer states (Holy See and Palestine). Its
international concern, from global health policy objectives are preserving international peace
to the monetary policies around the world. and security; elevating human rights; advancing
 They facilitate institutional agreement between social and economic development; securing the
members of an international system in order to environment; and giving humanitarian aid in
achieve objectives according to the systemic cases of natural calamities, famine, and armed
conditions, reflecting attributes, aspirations and conflict.
concerns of its members.
The United Nations Six (6) Organs
1. UN General Assembly begins its selection by May or June
- It may deliberate and settle issues relating to 2021, and may continue, if necessary,
maintaining the peace and security and make throughout the process of selection.
recommendations to nation-states or o Step 4 – Security Council Recommendation
suggestions to the Security Council (UNCS); - As per the Charter, the Security Council
determines on admittance of new members makes a recommendation to the
proposed by the UNCS; adopts the budget; and General Assembly. Since 1996, the
elects all members of UN ECOSOC, the non- Council had voted unanimously to
permanent members of the UNSC, the UN recommend one candidate to the
Secretary General, and 15 judges of General Assembly. Last time, the
International Court of Justice. relevant resolution was: S/RES/2311
(2016).
2. UN Secretariat o Step 5 – Appointment by the General
- Supports the other UN bodies administratively Assembly
(organizing conference, writing of reports and - The General Assembly appoints the
studies, and preparing of the budget). The Secretary-General through a resolution.
chairperson, who is also the UN’s foremost In the past, the draft resolution has
representative is the Secretary-General, elected been submitted by the President of the
for five-year mandate by the General Assembly. General Assembly and adopted by
- Currently, Mr. Antonio Guterres of Portugal is consensus. Last time, the relevant
the Secretary General of the United Nations. He resolution was: A/RES/71/4.
took office on January 1, 2017. The UN Charter o Step 6 – Start of the Secretary General’s
describes the Secretary-General as “chief Mandate
administrative officer” of the organization. - The term of the Secretary-General
begins on January 1, 2022. The term
Selection and Appointment Process
length will be specified in the relevant
o Step 1 – Joint Letter selection and appointment resolutions
- A joint letter is sent by the Presidents of by the Security Council and General
the General Assembly and Security Assembly. Recent Secretaries-General
Council to officially launch the selection have been appointed for 5-year terms.
and appointment process for the
position of Secretary-General. 3. International Court of Justice
o Step 2 – Presentation of Candidates - It decides disputes between states which
- The Presidents of the General Assembly observe its jurisdiction; issues legal opinions;
and Security Council will jointly circulate and renders judgment by relative majority. The
to all Member States, on an ongoing 15 judges are elected for nine-year terms by the
basis, the names of individuals that General Assembly.
have been submitted for consideration. - The Philippines has made significant
The names and supporting documents contributions to the progressive development of
will also be published on this webpage. international law. Notably, Cesar Bengzon was
o Step 3 – Vision Statement and Dialogue the first Filipino to serve as a judge at the
- Candidates for the position of International Court of Justice (ICJ) from 1967 to
Secretary-General will be invited to 1976. He was also the Chief Justice of the
submit a vision statement and to Supreme Court of the Philippines from 1961
participate in an informal dialogue with until 1966. Bengzon's appointment to the ICJ
Member States. Informal dialogues with was a historic achievement, and he is honored
candidates in the General Assembly will with the ICJ Judge Cesar Bengzon Hall at the
take place before the Security Council Philippine Embassy in The Hague. Abogado.
  ICJ (International Court of Justice) 6. UN Trusteeship Council
- Settles disputes between countries - It is originally programmed to manage colonized
(e.g., border issues, treaty violations). countries which were former mandates of
- Part of the United Nations. League of Nations. Since 1994, it has been
- Can only handle cases if both countries inactive when the last territory, Palau, attained
agree. independence.
 ICC (International Criminal Court)
Challenges of Global Governance in the 21st
- Tries individual people (e.g., presidents,
Century
generals) for crimes like genocide, war
crimes, and crimes against humanity.  Weiss (2015) has identified five global
- Independent from the UN (though they governance gaps: knowledge, normative, policy,
cooperate). institutional, and compliance.
- Can prosecute even if a country doesn’t
agree, as long as it has jurisdiction.  Knowledge Gap
 Normative Gap – lack of agreed rules or
4. UN Security Council standards.
- It is responsible in maintaining the international  Policy Gap – weak or unclear global policies.
peace and security; and may adopt compulsory  Institutional Gap – some issues have no strong
resolutions. It has 15 members on which five of global institutions.
them are permanent with veto power and 10  Compliance Gap – even if rules exist, countries
are elected members. do not always follow them.

Permanent Members (P5) – they have veto power:

1) China
2) France
3) Russia
4) United Kingdom (UK)
5) United States (US)

As of 2025, the current 10 non-permanent

members are:

1) Algeria
2) Guyana
3) Republic of Korea (South Korea)
4) Sierra Leone
5) Slovenia
6) Ecuador
7) Japan
8) Malta
9) Mozambique
10) Switzerland

5. UN Economic and Social Council

- It is responsible for cooperation between states
with regard to economic and social matters; and
coordinates cooperation between the UN’s
numerous specialized agencies.