Globalization and Global Governance

Miller (2004) begins his chapter in the book with the statement that “the emergence of a new global order, a new kind of sovereignty that transcends the nation-state” Miller (2004, 81). And he gives the name for this new global order as “imperial machine”. I have no intention to go over what his entire chapter tells us. However, I would like to point out the most striking argument “to me” in his chapter is that “As we strive to create institutions of global governance that can secure trust and credibility form the world’s citizens, we must work to reestablish political accountability between those who make knowledge and those whose lives are shaped by it—no matter how remote or marginal their position on this planet” Miller (2004, 99). His call for creating institutions of global governance reminded me about an episode in Burma.

When Nargis Cyclone landed on May 1, 2008 in Irrawaddy Division, the lower part of the country, it was recorded that the Nargis was the deadliest cyclone ever, taking the lives of 84,537 people, causing 19,359 injured, 53,836 persons missing, and more than 2.4 million people severely affected (Seekins 2009). The Burmese government took no action for emergency response within three days after the event. I saw several news casts of the international community outcry because its efforts to provide aid were slowed down by the dictator. Mr. Gordon Brown, British Primer accused the dictator of creating a ‘man-made catastrophe’ and treating the victims ‘inhumanly’ by blocking foreign aid (Mailonline 2008). U.S. First lady, Laura Bush, said that the United States would keep the pressure on the military regime to accept foreign aid in addition to sanctions already in place (White House 2008). The international community accused Burmese junta of creating a doomsday for its citizens (The Nation 2008). I find that the United Nations, which adopted the concept of “responsibility to protect” in 2005 that allows international intervention if a state fails willingly or unwillingly to protect its citizens, could not take action against the Burmese military junta (United Nations 2005). The General-Secretary of UN put Burma issue in the agenda of Security Council meeting. However, China and Soviet Russia used their veto for making resolution for interfering by Peace Making Crops because this does not fit in the personal interests of China and Soviet Russia.

Where are global accountability and global governance of UN that can secure and gain trust from the world’s citizens? Are we seeing UN as legitimate global institutions which try to reach every corner of global citizens no matter how remote or marginal their position on this planet? In reality, the emergence of ideal global governance in global institutions may still be far away from immediate future.

References

Clark Miller, “Resisting Empire: Globalism, Relocalization, and the Politics of Knowledge,” in S. Jasanoff and M. Martello, eds., Earthly Politics (MIT, 2004).

Seekins, D.M. 2009. State, Society and Natural Disaster: Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (Burma). Asian Journal of Social Science 37(5):717-737.

Mailonline. World Food Programme suspends cyclone aid flights to Burma after military junta seizes first plane-load of supplies. Mailonline . 2008.

The Nation. Letters to the editor. The Nation . 2008. 2-25-2011.

United Nations. 2005 World Summit Outcome Document. The 2005 World Submit . 2005. 2-28-2011.

White House. Laura Bush Says US Will Do All It Can to Help Burma Cyclone Victims. Voice of America . 2008. 2-28-2011.