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From Poverty to Power Green, Oxfam 2008 - weman

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5 THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM GLOBAL GOVERNANCEMoreover, from a development point of view, there are gapingholes in the fabric of global governance. Issues of vital importance <strong>to</strong>poor countries, such as migration or access <strong>to</strong> knowledge, receive onlythe lightest of <strong>to</strong>uches, whereas the issues that matter <strong>to</strong> the powerfulcountries, such as access <strong>to</strong> markets, capital movements, or protectingtheir technological edge, are rigorously enforced. Thus far, theprofound systemic challenge posed by climate change and the needfor rich and poor countries alike <strong>to</strong> move <strong>to</strong> a low-carbon model ofdevelopment dwarf the response.Yet in spite of all this, recent developments provide grounds foroptimism that global governance can do better. The dismal failure inIraq has led <strong>to</strong> un<strong>to</strong>ld suffering for the Iraqi people, but it has alsodriven home the folly of a return <strong>to</strong> gunboat diplomacy in a multipolarworld. The creation of the International Criminal Court shoulddeter future generations of dicta<strong>to</strong>rs and <strong>to</strong>rturers who might previouslyhave banked on remaining immune from prosecution. Resurgentdeveloping countries have created new coalitions <strong>to</strong> challenge theWest’s dominance in organisations such as the WTO. Public awarenessin the West of global poverty and inequality has never been higher,and politicians from all parties appear increasingly concerned aboutthose global issues, such as climate change, that require global responses.The upsurge in civil society organisation worldwide provides a strongimpetus for further progress.Beneath the froth of news and events, attitudes and beliefs arechanging. International human rights laws and treaties are slowlyacquiring weight and traction in the minds of governments andcitizens. Even the most egregious dicta<strong>to</strong>rs now pay lip service <strong>to</strong> therhe<strong>to</strong>ric, if not the practice, of rights and democracy; internationalrules on weapons and trade have mitigated some of the worst preda<strong>to</strong>rybehaviour of the powerful; and international co-operation has motivatedinvestment in global public goods. And perhaps most importan<strong>to</strong>f all, international systems have provided a vehicle for solidarity withthe struggles of poor women and men. Nevertheless, the urgency andscale of the challenge means that global governance needs <strong>to</strong> go muchfurther.Prediction and ambition invariably fall short of what his<strong>to</strong>ryactually delivers. In 1808, few foresaw the end of slavery; in 1908,425

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