Global governance and regionalism: opportunity or challenge?

Abstract

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE REFERS TO A FORM of governance, rules and regulations at a particular level. When considering the global level, with the huge number of actors involved, and with civil society being capable of generating political influence on governments, fragmentation becomes a critical issue for global governance. Adding to this challenge is regionalism, the cooperation of a limited number of states within a specific geographic setting. However, one may argue that regional organisations and agreements reached at the regional level may offer support for global governance strategies, thereby transforming the regional image associated with fragmentation to one of support. Yet it is part of an ongoing debate as to what extent regionalism either contributes to or undermines global governance strategies. To illustrate this challenge, the topic of climate change will be applied. To begin with, a short evaluation of what global governance stands for is offered.