Imagining A Realizable Global Governance Structure

This fall, MEI Senior Fellow Dr. Omar Razzaz led a study group on Global Governance. Held over three weeks, the sessions critically analyzed the shortcomings of the current system and laid out the considerations needed to bring forth an alternative fit for purpose in the 21st century. 

Drawing from his experience as Prime Minister of Jordan, Dr. Razzaz illustrated how these issues manifest at both the global and national levels, shedding light on the gaps in governance that hinder effective international cooperation.

The discussion underscored the crucial role of coordination in addressing global public goods, such as climate change, pandemics, and refugee crises. These challenges cannot be managed by national governments alone, yet they bear the brunt of accountability when failures occur.

Lessons from History: Compromise and the Evolution of Governance 

The current United Nations-based system was born out of an ambitious vision. As articulated by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, it would “secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants—everywhere in the world.” The path from vision to reality, however, is paved with compromise. Even in that time of idealism, the Soviet Union and isolationists within the US Senate lobbied against most member states, who called for a legally binding two-thirds majority system. While the great powers successfully opposed binding constraints, they were forced to make a concession: Article 109, which allows member states to amend the UN Charter. Despite the system’s flaws, however, the Article has never been invoked-- highlighting the inertia in governance structures. 

The chasm between ideals and reality is not, however, a reason to discard the former. As Dr. Razzaz put it, “Utopia is good to keep in mind.” Even if never realized, identifying the optimal destination makes it possible to ask ourselves “what are a few steps we can take in that direction?”

The Elephant in the Room: the UN and Systemic Weaknesses 

The structural deficiencies of the current governance framework are many. The UN General Assembly (GA) lacks enforcement power, while the Security Council (SC) is often paralyzed by vetoes. Decisions often fail to deliver tangible outcomes. “There are issues on which there's one resolution, after another, after another, yet we don't see it on reflected in the ground.” A key example of governance inefficacy is the slow progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), where, by 2023, only 15% were on track. Similarly, over 70% of all UN funding comes from voluntary contributions, leading to instability and influencing decision-making.

Global Governance and the Tragedy of the Commons 

The failure to provide global public goods faces a unique set of dynamics. National governments are held accountable for these problems, even when outside of their control. Climate change, pandemics, and refugee crises exemplify this dilemma. The tragedy of the commons and failure to provide public goods often result in national catastrophes for which governments are blamed, despite these being inherently global problems requiring global solutions. 

Jordan provides a compelling case study. As the world’s 96th largest carbon emitter, Jordan contributes minimally to climate change yet faces its devastating consequences. In 2018, during Dr. Razzaz’s tenure as Prime Minister, a catastrophic flood led to the deaths of 21 people. While such disasters are exacerbated by climate change, a global challenge, national governments bear the brunt of accountability. This creates an impossible dynamic, especially as global cooperation declines. 

Top-Down Approaches: Reforming Institutions  

Historical patterns suggest that successful cooperation arises from systems that are fair, transparent, and responsive. Game theory demonstrates that cooperative, clear, and retaliatory but forgiving structures yield the best long-term results. These insights are invaluable as they demonstrate that self-interest, when channeled through well-designed institutions, can produce cooperative outcomes.  

Potential reforms to the current system include:

• Revisiting UN Representation: Options range from maintaining sovereign equality (one country, one vote) to proportional representation based on population or a hybrid bicameral system. 
• Security Council Reform: Diluting veto power over time, narrowing its scope, expanding membership, or eliminating the SC altogether. 
• Funding Stability: Reducing reliance on voluntary contributions and implementing mandatory funding models similar to the EU’s fixed GNI-based approach. 

Bottom-Up Approaches: Clubs, Coalitions, and Networks 

Beyond top-down structural reform, alternative governance mechanisms can drive change. The European Union offers a model of supranational integration, balancing national sovereignty with collective decision-making. The Montreal Protocol, which reduced the production and use of ozone-depleting-substances, demonstrates the effectiveness of coalition-based governance, while economic alliances like BRICS illustrate the tradeoffs between broad participation and decisive action. 

A Realizable Path Forward 

While utopia will never be fully realized, the global community can aspire toward a system that is more relevant, effective, and deterrent against global crises. Reform must blend top-down institutional change with bottom-up coalition-building, learning from both historical successes and contemporary challenges. By translating values into actionable structures and institutions, the vision of global governance can become more than an aspiration—it can be an evolving reality. 

Participant Responses

Sarah AlKaabi, MPP 2026 said “His Excellency Dr. Razzaz's course on global governance challenged me to confront the flaws in current international systems while presenting a bold vision for transformative change. The course emphasized that hope is not passive, but action-oriented, sparking a sense of urgency and empowering me to actively contemplate how to shape a more just and effective global order.” 

Navid Goodarzi, MPP 2026 said: "Dr. Razzaz shared his deep understanding of global governance, rich with history, challenges, and ways forward that I could engage with, even though I am relatively new to the field. Dr. Razzaz brought us together to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing our global community, yet he instilled a sense of hope in how we look towards the future."

Shiho Togano, MC/MPA 2025 said “Dr. Razzaz’s study group was one of the most enriching experiences during my time at HKS. I appreciated how he balanced factual analysis, theoretical frameworks, and insights from his own leadership experience, which inspired me to think critically about real-world challenges. The selected readings sparked my excitement and curiosity, motivating me to dive deeper into the topic and explore new perspectives. This study group sparked a transformative journey to reimagine global governance with bold ideas and collaborative energy.”