How Global Institutions Rule the World

"In this thoughtful and thought-provoking book, Josep Colomer demonstrates that effective institutions of global governance exist. A single world government is neither possible nor desirable. But it is also unnecessary. Instead, a number of effective institutions already carry out essential functions of world governance. Moreover, in spite of worries about "democratic deficits", those institutions are able to meet the essential requirements of an effective democracy: representation, competence, consensus, and accountability." - Martin Wolf, Chief Economist, Financial Times, UK
 
Does world government actually exist? Are the current global institutions efficient in making decisions? Can they be compatible with basic democratic principles? This book holds that, indeed, world government does exist. How Global Institutions Rule the World demonstrates how the world is actually ruled by a few dozen global bureaus, organizations, funds, banks, courts and self-appointed directorates. They use different representation, voting, and organizational formulas, yet the variety of arrangements of the global institutions is not an indicator of weak capacity of decision-making or of policy enforcement. Instead, it reflects the extensive scope of their activities and the complexity of the global agenda of issues. With the appropriate institutional design, global government needs to be made compatible with a notion of accountable democratic rule.

Josep M. Colomer is Research Professor in Political Economy at Georgetown University, USA. Colomer is a life member of the American Political Science Association and a member by election of the Academy of Europe.

Introduction
1.World Government is Here
PART I: WHO RULES

2.Network Goods are Served by Simple Bureaus

3.Unanimity Rule Failed to Make the World More Secure
4.A Great-Powers' Directorate Has Averted the Third World War
5.Weights and Coalitions for Finance and Development
6.Equal Vote Does Not Favor Global Trade
7.The World's Self-Appointed Steering Committee
PART II: HOW THEY RULE
8.Domestic Politics Doesn't Make Policy

9.Global Representation Requires Rotation of Countries
10.Effective Decisions are Made by Means of Weighted Votes

11.Expert Rulers Replace Politicians and Diplomats
12.Policy Consensus is Built With More Ideas than Votes
13.Non-Electoral Accountability is Based On Performance and Values
14.Can Global Democracy Exist