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THE AIM OF THE Managing Global Insecurity project is to launch a reform effort of the global security system in 2009. That task is both ambitious and urgent. It is clear that globalization remains the dominant trend shaping our world. It has offered millions a chance to live better lives. But globalization has also unleashed forces that governments can neither stop nor control on their own. The list of problems is by now familiar. The “dark side” of globalization requires us to address climate change, nonproliferation , state failure, energy security, and financial instability. In recent years, all these problems have become more urgent and complex. But our capacity to address them has not kept pace. The question that lies at the heart of this project is this: how do we organize our globalized world? This is a world where problems are mostly global in nature, but where resources and legitimacy are mostly held at the national level. And how do you do that in a world where power is shifting in fundamental ways—both within political systems and between them? The MGI project is an attempt to find answers. This book assesses the performance of the existing multilateral framework. It analyses the causes of past successes and failures—and draws lessons for the future. ix FOREWORD JAVIER SOLANA 00-4706-2 frontmatter 12/17/08 10:24 AM Page ix It makes a strong case for how the concept of responsible sovereignty can help us to form much-needed bargains on the pressing global problems of our time. The book lays out a broad but practical vision. It examines the characteristics of each specific threat and what needs to happen at the global and regional levels to address the challenges presented. It calls our attention to the critical role that states can and should play, but also to the contribution that the private sector, NGOs, and others can make. It does not shy away from tough problems, for instance, on how we must bring the rising powers into positions at the top table of global politics , through an expanded G-8 and in the UN Security Council. It does so by underlining the twin imperatives for global governance: effectiveness and legitimacy. It is important that the recommendations here came out of consultations on virtually every continent, and above all with Europe and the rising powers. That kind of dialogue is essential if we are to forge a shared understanding of both the nature of the major problems and the best solutions. The case for deep reform of the current international system is clear. Today, this must start with the international financial institutions, led by the Group of 20 (G-20). But we need to go further and extend the process to also cover climate change and critical security issues. The MGI project, through this book and through the Plan for Action published in November 2008, shows us the way forward. The time to act on it is now. JAVIER SOLANA Secretary General, Council of the European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy x FOREWORD BY JAVIER SOLANA 00-4706-2 frontmatter 12/17/08 10:24 AM Page x ...

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