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New York Briefing PapersThe "Briefing Papers" series provides concise information and analyses on specific topics.
the complete list of Dialogue on Globalization Briefing Papers
the complete list of New York Publications
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2010
Why Should the Global Reserve System Be Reformed?
The UN Stiglitz Commission, appointed in late 2008 to study the global economic and financial crisis, had among its chief recommendations reforms to the global reserve system. This briefing paper by Commission member José Antonio Ocampo, former Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, argues that –in the long run, a national currency cannot provide the basis for a stable, international monetary system. Ocampo’s briefing outlines fundamental flaws in the current dollar reserve standard – that places undue burdens upon developing countries and creates an unstable international reserve system – while exploring the history, alternative forms and regional strategies toward a new world reserve system.
Briefing Paper 1, FES New York, January 2010
2009
Towards A Socially Responsible and Democratic Global Economic System:Transparency, Accountability and Governance
Beginning in the fall of 2008 under the aegis of the first G20 leaders meeting, national governments, central banks and international financial institutions organized themselves with blinding speed to rescue the global financial system. Unfortunately, reforms to increase transparency and accountability in the governance of these same financial institutions has not proceeded at a similarly urgent pace. This paper proposes principles for strengthening these reform efforts in order to move towards a more socially responsible and democratic global economic system. Briefing Paper 15, FES New York, November 2009 New Momentum for Security Council Reform
UN Member States have been discussing reform of the Security Council for decades without major breakthroughs. This Briefing Paper takes a close look at the current round of deliberations, drawing upon interviews with UN Member States and the analysis of UN reports. The author concludes that the negotiations do provide for a newly forged - albeit still shaky - common ground on which progress can be made. Briefing Paper 12, FES New York, September 2009 Democracy Support: a Fresh Start
Informed by discussions at an FES/Century Foundation organized international conference on the future of the democratic idea, this paper analyses the challenges of the financial crisis and shifts in global power structures - notably towards China - to democracy support. The paper concludes that the financial crisis creates openings for democracy support and recommends a three track approach to effectively use these opportunities: a direct responds to the crisis targeting particularly the economic vulnerable, specific focus on and support to young democracies and strengthening international organizations. Briefing Paper 10, FES New York, July 2009 Does the UN Peacebuilding Commission Change the Mode of Peacebuilding in Africa?
The UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) serves as a dedicated institutional mechanism for post-conflict responds, addressing the fragmentary nature of peacebuilding initiatives by the UN and outside actors. Analyzing the PBC’s strategies in Sierra Leone and Burundi, this paper argues that while the PBC offers rudimentary new approaches to peacebulding, many shortcomings within the PBC and the international development regime need to be addressed. The paper concludes with several policy recommendations, such as greater authority for the PBC in decision-making processes, a revision of the policy framework for war-torn economies, and reformed governance structures in post-conflict societies. Briefing Paper 8, FES New York, June 2009 The Future of Peacekeeping Operations: Fighting Political Fatigue and Overstretch Richard Gowan
Drawing from the insights of an international policy debate on peacekeeping overstretch co-organized by FES, Gowan identifies major stresses of the UN and non-UN peacekeeping system. Analyzing the biggest UN (DRC) and NATO (Afghanistan) peace operations, he blames "risk transferral" and mistrust as key obstacles, driving political divergences and operational mismanagement. He proposes five policy options for greater transparency and trust, allowing better peacekeeping strategies, e.g. a head-of-government conference to foster strategic discussion. Briefing Paper 3, FES New York, March 2009 How to Create Better Financial Regulation & Institutions Stephany Griffith-Jones
Stephany Griffith-Jones proposes comprehensiveness and counter cyclicality as key principles for financial regulation and new institutional arrangements for reforming the global financial system. On the national level, a financial products safety commission should be established, on the global level, the Bank for International Settlements should be adapted to become a regulator. Further, the author discusses options to regulate bankers’ compensation. Briefing Paper 2, FES New York, March 2009 2008
The Doha Declaration and Development: What are the next steps? Sara Burke-Rude The UN conference to review the Monterrey Consensus on development was held in Doha, Qatar from 30 November – 2 December, 2008. The current global economic crisis has made financing development an even greater challenge than before. This Briefing Paper examines the Doha Declaration and assesses progress made, follow-up mechanisms and where to go from here. Briefing Paper 14, FES New York, December 2008 The Global Financial Crisis: What needs to be done? Christopher Rude
This Briefing Paper reviews the causes for the current financial crisis, its effects on the world economy, and in particular the social costs for developing countries. It argues for global financial reforms that tilt the balance in favor of the democratic state over financial markets. Special attention is given to a revision of the Basel II’s Three Pillars, and the creation of comprehensive market regulation to increase transparency and reduce market risk. To relieve the immediate crisis, the paper argues for additional liquidity measures targeted at the interbank market, and fiscal stimulus packages. The briefing paper summarizes the recommendations of a meeting of senior economic authorities hosted by Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz of IPD on November 13, 2008 in Briefing Paper 12, FES New York, November 2008 The UN, the AU and ECOWAS- A Triangle for Peace and Security in West Africa?Titilope Ajayi
With peacekeeping capacities stretched thin and a new dimension of global-regional cooperation evolving e.g. with the UN-AU hybrid mission in Darfur, new questions arise on the relationship between the UN and (sub-) regional organizations. What role should the global, regional and sub-regional level play in security governance? How to use the comparative advantages of each level while ensuring complementarity and maintaining the primacy of the UN? Titilope Ajayi analyses the relationship between UN, OAU/ AU and ECOWAS in West Africa, presents lessons learnt from joint peacekeeping operations and identifies opportunities for further collaboration. The author concludes that the respective roles must be defined in a common framework, while the principle of reciprocity must inform all future UN-AU and UN-ECOWAS collaborations. Briefing Paper 11, FES , November 2008 A New Era of World Hunger? The Global Food Crisis Analyzed James A. Paul and Katarina Wahlberg
This paper takes as a starting point an international conference, held in New York in April 2008, organized by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and the Global Policy Forum. Paul and Wahlberg consider the right to food and analyze the role of the United Nations in responding to the global food crisis. They argue for effective short-term aid and long-term transformation of the agricultural system to make it more justly distributive, resilient, and sustainable for the future. Briefing Paper 7, FES , August 2008 2007
The U.N. Counter-Terrorism Committee: An Institutional Analysis C.S.R. Murty
In his paper, C.S.R. Murty briefly outlines the genealogy of the United Nation's counter terrorism strategies. He analyses the institutional design of the U.N. Counter-Terrorism Committee and describes its policies and activities until today. Finally, he proposes a set of policy recommendations to strengthen the committee beyond its currernt mandate that will end in December 2007. Briefing Paper 15, FES , September 2007 Between Paternalism and Hybrid Partnership: Tim Murithi
Briefing Paper 2, FES , May 2007
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