Addressing the Grand Challenges of Planetary Governance: The Future of the Global Political Order

The world today faces unprecedented governance needs, challenging the existing global political order. The author explores the prospects for a critical transition in the global political order, analyzing factors such as constitutive pressures, systemic forces, tipping elements, scale, and potential successors. The aim is to contribute to a better understanding of critical transitions in large political orders.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 09 February 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The world today faces unprecedented demands for governance, with profound implications for human well-being that are challenging to address effectively within the prevailing global political order. This prompts us to question whether we should assume that the global order will persist in its current state, characterized by a state-based society, as we explore options for addressing these challenges. By treating political orders as complex systems and drawing on our understanding of their dynamics, the author aims to explore the prospects for a critical transition in the prevailing global political order.

The essay is organized into several sections, each analyzing different factors contributing to the transition. Constitutive pressures, systemic forces, tipping elements, the effects of scale, the defining characteristics of potential successors to the current order, and pathways to a new order are all examined in detail. The author seeks to make a more general contribution to our understanding of critical transitions in large political orders by examining these factors.

The current global political order is characterized by a complex web of interdependencies and power dynamics, making it difficult to predict how it will evolve. However, there are several factors that could contribute to a critical transition. One important factor is the increasing dissatisfaction with the current order, driven by factors such as economic inequality, political instability, and environmental degradation. This dissatisfaction could lead to a surge in political activism and social movements, which could challenge the existing order and push for change.

Another factor that could contribute to a critical transition is the rise of new technologies and global networks, which have the potential to reshape the way that politics is conducted and power is distributed. For example, the rise of social media and the internet has enabled individuals and groups to mobilize and organize more effectively, challenging traditional political institutions and power structures.

Finally, the increasing interdependence of nations and the global economy could also contribute to a critical transition. As nations become more interconnected, they are also more vulnerable to economic shocks and other global crises, which could lead to increased political instability and the emergence of new political actors.

In conclusion, the world today faces unprecedented needs for governance, with profound implications for human well-being that are difficult to address effectively within the prevailing global political order. While it is difficult to predict how the global order will evolve, there are several factors that could contribute to a critical transition. These factors include increasing dissatisfaction with the current order, the rise of new technologies and global networks, and the increasing interdependence of nations and the global economy. By understanding these factors and their potential implications, we can better prepare for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Weight: 124g
Dimension: 227 x 152 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009272476