Is Global Society the New Source of Accountability in Global Governance or Composed of Embedded Elites - Essay Example

Running header: Global civil society Student’s name: Instructor’s name: Subject code: Date of submission Is global civil society the new source of accountability in global governance or is it simply composed of embedded elites? Introduction For sometimes now, the global civil society has emerged as a force to reckon with on the global arena in their bid to democratize decision making processes, protection of human rights as well as provision of essential services to the extremely needy. The role of civil society action in global governance has rapidly expanded from local and international settings to an international level. Owing to globalization, there have been institutional transformations that have seen international actors including the UN agencies, regional organizations and intergovernmental summits play an increasing role in global governance. The civil society has been the latest entrant to the evolving system of global governance and are increasingly finding ways of influencing the international decision making processes that are associated with development issues (Kumar, 2015). Civil societies have for instance been able to point that some international and national organizations though enjoying greater power and freedom are often without any commensurate increasing social responsibility. Thus, the civil societies have been playing great roles in correcting the potentially dangerous imbalance. However, questions have arisen over the sufficiency of effectively performing the role. In other words, is global civil society the new source of accountability in global governance or is it simply composed of embedded elites? This paper looks at the role of civil societies in promoting global governance in relation to the UN (ICRW, 2015). This will be done with an aim of establishing whether they have effectively promoted global governance or they have been working for selfish gains with an aim of meeting their own agendas. It is worth noting that the world has witnessed an increasing rate of global interconnectedness and a rise in new and old borderless challenges including climate change, terrorism and financial crisis. In addition, a rise in the level of human rights abuse and such vices as corruption has also been on the rise. There is also the need to tackle poverty and ensure a healthy and peaceful world. The global nature of such issues has called for appropriate global responses especially with systems of global governance becoming more complex. It should be noted that there is no global government to determine codes of conduct while helping such issues as well as regulating relations between states. As such, the UN is the body that provides an arena where such issues can be tackled through its various agencies. In playing its role in global governance, the UN must cooperate with various bodies including the civil society to ensure it plays its role effectively (Kamat, 2004). The cooperation between the UN and the civil society in promoting accountability in global governance is seen in various areas as will be discussed below. Civil societies are increasingly playing a greater role in policy formulation processes both at the national and international levels. The civil society is always active at various UN forums where its policies are formulated. The idea behind this is that the civil society also plays a major role implementing the policies they help formulate at the national level. The major areas they have been involved in policy formulation include those to do with poverty alleviation and sustainable development (Riva, 2011). At the national level, the NGOs have been helping the UN with the implementation of the policies they help formulate. For instance, the NGOs were actively involved in the formulation of MDGs and have also been working closely with national governments in formulation of programs aimed at achieving the goals. Other areas of policy formulation that the civil societies have been involved in at the UN level include the formulation of the UN education charter, UN policy on health and policy on poverty eradication. In so doing, the NGOs are also involved in policy formulation at the national level where they work hand in hand with governments to ensure such policies are implemented. In addition, civil societies have been cooperating with the UN in the democratization process which in turn ensures peaceful coexistence in the world which is part of the roles of the UN. In this regard, the NGOs help in giving voice to those that have been historically marginalized thus providing them with an opportunity to exercise their rights while holding governments countable (Goodhart, 2001). In this regard, NGOs play a vital role in strengthening of democracy as well as skills of citizenship essential for healthy societies. The global civil societies have also increasingly played a great role in advancing the UN environmental governance agenda especially through advocacy. A number of civil societies have had formidable positions of influence and power both at the national and UN political systems as far as environmental governance issues are concerned. Such civil societies include the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), International union for the conservation of nature (IUCN), Greenpeace as well as friends of the earth. Such organizations have successfully promoted new agreements on environmental sustainability in an effort to safeguard the rapidly dilapidating global environment from the effects of global warming. For instance, their work on environmental governance led to the adoption of the Montreal Protocol regarding substances that deplete the Ozone layer, the treaty on the ban of land mines as well as the mine ban treaty signed in 1997 among other efforts aimed at promoting environmental governance (Francesca, 2015). It is no doubt that such efforts by various global civil societies have led to greatly accountability as far as environmental sustainability is concerned. The global civil society has also been on the first line in amplifying the UN efforts towards ensuring political accountability and government integrity among its members. Some nations are characterized by leaders unwilling to relinquish political power while their regimes are always characterized by poor human right records. In a bid to promote human rights, civil societies have always used various means in a bid to ensure political reforms are undertaken so that there can be better human rights environment. A good example is the role played by the NGOs in Kenya in early 1990s in a bid to ensure the then dictatorial regime gave way for political reforms that would ensure entrenchment of democracy (Stanley Foundation, 2015). Since, then, the country has embraced democracy and is one of the most democratic regimes in the region. This underscores the potential of civil societies to contribute to political reforms by organizing, mobilizing and acting against state oppression and forcing political and social reforms from within civil societies. It is also worth noting that civil societies have been acting to promote integrity in government in the various countries where they operate. This is done by lobbying governments to put up measures that will help promote transparency and accountability while fighting such vices as corruption. A good example of an organization that has been promoting integrity in government is transparency international. The organization has branches in every country of the world and has always helped countries fight corruption by encouraging them formulate policies that promote integrity (Fernando, 2012). In addition, the organization usually rates countries in terms of their transparency levels thus ensuring that governments put in measures to promote integrity in governance. As stated by UN secretary general, the civil society movement continues to grow and makes its mark. The millennium declaration was signed by 189 governments in UN general assembly in 2000 with an aim of freeing men, women and children from dehumanizing and abject conditions of severe poverty which continues to affect more than one billion people globally. Some of the goals included in the declaration included human rights, gender equality, peace, environment among other pressing priorities for the least developed nations (Raffaele, 2010). The global civil societies had a great role to play in formulation of the goals. In addition, they have been engaged in ensuring that nations meet the goals. The civil societies have been critical in bringing people’s rights and voices into the process of achieving the goals. In this regard, civil societies have been involved in advocacy initiatives that include MDG briefings, handouts and talks while creating national and regional networks. There has also been close cooperation between the civil society, the UN and the national governments whereby the NGOs at times have been involved in sourcing of finances with which the government’s efforts towards the achievement of the goals. In other cases, the civil societies have been involved in ensuring accountability on those charged with the achievement of the goals (Aisha, 2005). In addition, the NGOs have also been involved in deliberations with governments and NGOs regarding the best mode of delivery as well as order for delivery of the millennium development goals. The analysis above shows the various areas where the global society has been cooperating with the UN and the international community in promoting global governance. Promotion of international peace is at the heart of the United Nations goals. As such, the global society has to be appreciated for its effort towards promotion of international peace such organizations as the red cross have played a great role in their evacuation efforts in war torn countries (Jan, 2012). Wherever there are disasters, the Red Cross and the Red Crescent have been at the fore front in providing humanitarian aid. In conjunction with such UN agencies as UNHCR, such organizations have always ensured that refugees are provided with a home away from home until there is peace. However, it should be noted that some civil societies have been blamed for playing on the self-gallery by fueling violence and funding terrorists related activities for their selfish gains. This is obviously not in line with the UN peace goals. In addition, the civil societies have at times been cited as being too powerful and autonomous with no one to control their power. In this case, they are always seen as undermining the sovereignty of the host nations (Josphine, 2011). In this case, they are seen as serving self-interests and thus working against what the UN stands for. It has been discussed that the global civil society has been playing a vital role in advocating for accountability and integrity in national and international institutions. This is done through unearthing corrupt deals happening in such institutions and calling for accountability at all levels of institutional governance. This in playing their part in promoting global governance. However, questions have been asked whether the civil societies themselves are accountable (Grant, 2005). At times they have been cited for refusing to surrender to the jurisdictions where they operate. At times some NGOs refuse to surrender their audited accounts to the authority while others have been accused for participating or promoting illegal activities. When compelled to comply with the provisions of the local laws, they at times result to activism accusing the host nations of harassing them. In addition, some of the civil societies have been accused of having agendas that do not benefit the host nation. As such, it is not clear whether the NGOs are out to benefit the masses or whether they are out for selfish gains (Roy, 2010). Conclusion This paper has discussed in detail the role that the global civil society has continued to play in promoting global governance. It has been found out that both the civil society and global governance are inseparable features of the contemporary international relations. In this regard, it has been found that global civil societies have provided mechanism for global collaboration and coordination for resolving the global problems (Seligman, 2002). Global civil societies have been found to offer collaboration to the UN and national and international institutions for promoting accountability and integrity as well as well as solving problems that bedevil the contemporary global community. In this regard, global civil society has acted as the voice of the voiceless while advocating for policies that support the UN in various ways. However, it has also been found that some global civil society groups have failed to act accountably and with integrity thus affecting the good reputation of the global civil society. Thus, while the global civil society has acted to promote accountability in the furtherance of global governance, it is also clear that some of the global civil societies are simply composed of embedded elites who are out to pursue their personal goals. References: Kumar, M2015, The role of global civil society in global governance, Beijing Law Review, vol. 2, no.1, pp. 206-213. 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