UN task-sharing: Towards or away from global governance?

Abstract

This volume’s point of departure was an overextended United Nations devolving responsibilities toward regional arrangements for security functions1 and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for the delivery of many services. This reflected more than infatuation with a kind of ‘privatization’ of the business of intergovernmental organizations. Rather, it was the realization that in a world with limited resources and more than enough challenges, a better international division of labour was essential. Rather than bleating, as a die-hard member of the UN fan club might, about the inability of the world organization to perform, it seemed more reasonable and practical to examine the dynamics of what could well be enhanced global governance. Within this context, it makes more sense to ask who does what best, or at least better, than to lament the disappearance of a mythical UN system powerful and well-equipped enough to undertake every task. The analytical and policy perspective thus is untidy — there is no straightforward hierarchical arrangement with a devolution from states to the United Nations, and then from the world organization to regional institutions and NGOs. Rather there are pluralistic, or messy, relationships that vary often by task, historical period and geographical area.