Global Governance Research Articles

Integrating the ethics of integral ecologies into global environmental governance

Integrating the ethics of integral ecologies into global environmental governance

The Rebirth of the Global South: Geopolitics, Imageries and Developmental Realities

The term ‘Global South’ has seen a resurgence in recent years, evolving from a synonym for the ‘Third World’ to a geo-historical concept representing low- and middle-income countries and emerging powers. Despite growing prominence in global policy debates, its meaning remains contested. In this introductory article to the special issue, we first discuss five distinct interpretations identified in the literature. We emphasize that Global South is characterized by internal diversity, evolving roles, and shifting alliances, while remaining anchored in the broader struggles for global justice and systemic transformation that give the concept its political meaning. The second part analyses the role of the Global South in reshaping global governance as countries within this grouping navigate strategic balancing between major powers, influencing emerging multipolar dynamics. Through a dialogue with the articles in the special issue we illustrate how the role of the Global South moves far beyond being critical of the west and a liberal world order, but rather both challenge and reaffirm some of the norms underpinning such an order. The third part discusses how South-South Cooperation (SSC) emerges as a vehicle for reconfiguring global cooperation, driven by strategic interests and diverse forms of engagement. The articles in this special issues provide examples of the multifaceted nature of this engagement. Overall, this special issue provides insights into how the Global South’s complexities intersect with geopolitical shifts, challenging traditional norms and offering new frameworks for global governance transformation.

The coming of age of East Asian cosmopolitan nation-state universities in the SDGs era: at the crossroads of internationalization, global governance, and nation-statehood

ABSTRACT The purpose of this special issue dedicated to the current realities of East Asian global universities is to consider the future of the internationalization higher education in the region and beyond as the world grapples with the precarious balancing act of international cooperation and national competition. Collectively, the eight articles paint a picture of a region undergoing redefinition of their ideals and objectives for institutional internationalization and transforming their mission in alignment with emerging global governance frameworks, with a focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To understand the nature of global universities in East Asia, it is important to review the changes in the international dimension of higher education and how global governance and nation-statehood contributes to their mission. Given the prominent role higher education play in national development in a globalized world, this special issue is at the heart of the coming of age of the East Asian Cosmopolitan Nation-State University, grounded in the theoretical and contextual foundations of internationalization, providing a review of its theoretical and contextual foundations centered upon institutional transformation through internationalization, global governance, and nation-statehood.

Sustainable Risk Governance in Maritime Transport: Embodied Carbon Emissions and Responsibility Distribution Across BRICS Coastal Economies

Maritime carbon responsibility allocation can guide sea level rise and storm surge mitigation in BRICS coastal zones by addressing emissions-driven climate risks. This study analyzes the characteristics of and differences in embodied carbon emissions in the Maritime Transport Industry of the BRICS countries from the perspectives of producer responsibility, consumer responsibility, and shared responsibility, based on a global value chain framework. Using non-competitive input–output data from the OECD and introducing a processing trade adjustment mechanism, the study calculates the carbon emissions of the five countries from 1995 to 2018. The empirical results show that under producer responsibility, carbon emissions in China and South Africa’s maritime transport sectors are mainly driven by exports, with production-side emissions significantly higher than consumption-side emissions. Under consumer responsibility, emissions in India and Brazil are driven by the demand for imported goods, reflecting their high reliance on external markets. In shared responsibility accounting, China’s cumulative carbon emissions account for 66.81% of the total emissions from the five countries, highlighting its central role in global supply chains. The study also finds that the differences in carbon emissions among the countries are mainly due to differences in economic structures, trade dependencies, and consumption patterns. Different responsibility accounting methods have a significant impact on carbon emissions, with export-oriented countries tending to weaken producer responsibility, while import-oriented countries seek to avoid consumer responsibility. The shared responsibility mechanism, through the dynamic allocation coefficient α, provides a practical approach to balancing efficiency and equity in global carbon governance.

Advancements in sustainable pavement materials: A literature review

This paper reviews the research progress of sustainable pavement materials, focusing on the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and improve the recyclability of road construction materials. Traditional materials such as asphalt and cement contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions due to their reliance on fossil fuels. This study explores innovative solutions including bio-based asphalt substitutes, recycled aggregates, and industrial by-products that comply with circular economy principles and offer similar or better mechanical properties. Integrating these materials into road construction can not only solve environmental problems but also support global climate governance efforts. Despite the progress made, challenges remain, such as the need for a comprehensive life cycle assessment framework and improved performance evaluation systems. This paper emphasizes the importance of building a multi-dimensional collaborative innovation research framework to overcome the technological bottleneck and promote the sustainable development of green infrastructure.

Leveraging Large Language Models in Multiagent System

The combination of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) represents an artificial intelligence paradigm that empowers decentralized agents to reason, communicate, and coordinate with human-level flexibility. This review integrates the progress of LLM-based MAS, with focus on architectural innovation like neuro- symbolic architectures and decentralized coordination techniques, for improvement in healthcare, autonomous systems, and smart cities. 20 foundation studies analysis shows uses such as diagnostic error prevention (32%) and autonomous vehicle crash avoidance (37%). Challenges remain, however, such as computational expense (e.g., tenfold cloud costs for 100-agent systems), ethical hazards (e.g., 34% recruitment simulation bias), and latency problems (500–800ms decision-making delay). Scalability limitations also occur due to energy wastage in edge deployment. Priorities in the future are light-weight LLM models for real-time applications, global governance paradigms to tackle regulatory fragmentation, and inter-disciplinary collaboration to promote ethical accountability. With the appropriate balance between innovation and societal justice, LLM- based MAS can become effective instruments for scalable, human-centered problem-solving.

Environmental Health: Towards Synthesis in Global Law and Governance.

International law and global governance regimes for environmental health challenges have been slow to reflect the intertwined relationship between the environment and human health. Historical legacies have caused artificial fragmentation between the two that has resulted in distinct fields of international law and institutions for the environment and health. However, new global paradigms for thinking about environmental health have emerged to foster synthesis under global health law, including One Health and Planetary Health approaches, as well as through international human rights law like the recognition of the right to a clean, safe, and healthy environment. Guided by equity, new international law and global governance reforms, including the proposed Pandemic Agreement and Plastics Treaty, are opportunities to synthesize the intersecting dimensions of the environment and global health. However, future paths towards cohesion must explicitly incorporate human rights in environmental health governance, including the rights of Indigenous Peoples, while actively addressing inequities in global health law, between and within countries, and across generations.

Global Health Law: Between Hard and Soft Law.

The field of global health law encompasses both "hard" law treaties and "soft" law policies that shape global health norms. Transitioning from "international health law" to "global health law and policy," global health policymakers have increasingly looked to soft law instruments to address public health needs in a rapidly globalizing world - within the World Health Organization and across global health governance. Yet, as policymakers have expanded the landscape of soft law policy instruments to advance global health across state and non-state actors, the COVID-19 response revealed the limitations of this soft law approach to global health threats, with states now seeking hard law reforms to strengthen global health governance. As hard and soft law can provide complementary approaches to preventing disease and promoting health, future research must conceptualize how these normative frameworks interact in advancing global health.

Law and Global Governance of Infectious Disease: Access to Medicines on COVID-19, AIDS, and Beyond.

Scientific advances to fight infectious diseases have been remarkable. International law and global governance have sought, and often failed, to keep pace, secure equity, and stop outbreaks. We trace the law and governance model emerging from early failure in the AIDS response and identify four elements: use of law by national governments to compel sharing; decentralized generic manufacturing; mechanisms for voluntary sharing of patents and technology transfer; international funding. In combination, these created a remarkable new ecosystem. We find that when COVID-19 hit and mRNA vaccines were rapidly developed, global North governments opposed mobilizing this synergistic model. Instead, equity efforts focused on financing purchase of vaccines from originator companies with little use of law. Amidst monopolies and scarcity of doses, vaccine nationalism fatally undermined this effort. Whether more synergistic law and governance emerges from rapidly changing global health law will likely dictate the efficacy of future global infectious disease response.

Decolonial Framings in Global Health Law: Redressing Colonial Legacies for a Just and Equitable Future.

Colonialism has produced the global health system, and decoloniality must inform global health law. This article considers the foundational impact of colonialism on the global health system and advocates for adopting decoloniality as a crucial framework to reshape global health law. Through a historical lens, it examines how European colonialism established power dynamics and structures that continue to influence contemporary global health governance. This article calls for overcoming enduring challenges by emphasizing the urgency of dismantling outdated and unjust systems that perpetuate health inequities and hinder effective interventions. It argues for a paradigm shift toward epistemically inclusive, ethical, and equitable practices, emphasizing the active participation of marginalized communities in health policymaking. By addressing the root causes of health disparities and decoupling health systems from racial capitalism, a decolonial approach promises a more just and effective future for global health law.

Cross - border data transfers : international cooperation and conflicts

In a globally connected digital economy, cross-border data transfers are pivotal for trade,innovation, and communication. However, they are also a source of significant legal andgeopolitical tension due to differing privacy and data sovereignty standards. This paper examinesthese conflicts, focusing on the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR),which has set a high bar for data privacy globally. By allowing data transfers only under stringentconditions, such as the adoption of GDPR-equivalent laws or the use of mechanisms like BindingCorporate Rules (BCRs) and Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs), the GDPR imposes substantialcompliance burdens, particularly on developing nations. These requirements complicate efforts tobalance the preservation of digital trade opportunities with respect for national privacy standards.The study explores alternative frameworks, such as bilateral and regional agreements exemplifiedby the EU-US Privacy Shield and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for TransPacificPartnership (CPTPP). It also underscores the potential for multilateral solutions based on commonprivacy principles developed through organizations like the OECD and APEC. By analyzing theseapproaches, this paper highlights the need for harmonized international standards that facilitatesecure and equitable data flows while respecting the diverse regulatory preferences of nations. Thefindings emphasize that fostering cooperation is essential to addressing the challenges and conflictsin global data governance.

Research on the Path of Green Economic Transformation and Technological Innovation Policy from the Perspective of Corporate Social Responsibility

Driven by global climate governance and sustainable development goals, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is shifting from passive compliance to proactive innovation, becoming the core engine of green economy transformation. Based on CSR perspective, this study explores the synergy path between technological innovation policy and green economy transformation. By analyzing the mechanism of incentive and constraint policies and international practical experience, this paper reveals the efficiency boundary of policy tools in driving enterprise technological innovation, and puts forward the transformation path of "technology-institution-governance" linkage. The results show that CSR internalizes social responsibility into technological innovation power by reshaping enterprise cost-benefit structure; policy design needs to balance hardness and softness, and stimulate enterprise endogenous transformation willingness through incentive and constraint combination tools; the success of green economy transformation depends on the deep coordination among government, enterprise and society in standard setting, resource sharing and benefit coordination.

Cooperation on Capacity-Building and the Transfer of Marine Technology: An Interpretation of Article 41 under the BBNJ Agreement

Cooperation mechanism on capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology (CBTMT) under the BBNJ Agreement, is pivotal for enabling inclusive, equitable, and effective cooperation and participation in the activities undertaken, thereby assisting Parties-in particular developing State Parties-in implementing the Agreement. Article 41 established cooperation norms on CBTMT through three pillars: mandatory cooperation obligations, cross-sector partnerships, and differentiated cooperation process. These provisions aim to safeguard developing countries’ interests while advancing the global governance framework for the sustainable use and conservation of marine biodiversity. However, compromises during the negotiations of the BBNJ Agreement introduce challenges in implementation, primarily due to the reluctance of developed countries and other stakeholders to engage fully into cooperative efforts, coupled with the power inequality among the Parties. This paper proposes a legal analysis framework to address these challenges and enhancing the efficacy of CBTMT cooperation under the BBNJ Agreement.

The effects of China's Belt and Road Initiative investments on mitigating climate risks in partner countries

The One Belt, One Road (OBOR) program is a major step toward making the idea of a worldwide community that shares common interests a reality. Nevertheless, a number of OBOR member nations are located in areas that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The infrastructure developments linked to the OBOR program have prompted several Western countries to express concern that these nations may become even more vulnerable to the effects of climate variability. The impact of Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) on climate change risks in OBOR member nations is explored in this article, which also analyzes the processes at work. Examining panel data from 65 partner countries spanning 2004–2020, this research examines how China's FDI affects host countries’ capacity to handle climate change risks, with a particular emphasis on each country's vulnerability risk. Important results from the research comprise: China's direct investment in OBOR regions strengthens the climate resilience of partner countries by reducing their vulnerability to climate change. Countries with lower or medium incomes, those in close proximity to China, and those that have free trade agreements with China feel the benefits of Chinese investments more acutely. Consistent with OBOR's guiding philosophy of sharing development outcomes and promoting global governance, the positive impacts of OBOR investments can be explained in part by rising incomes and stable governments. Contrary to claims of “carbon emissions transfer” and evidence that environmental sustainability is central to the OBOR project, investments made under the OBOR have decreased climate vulnerability without increasing local carbon emissions. The research findings and policy suggestions in this article provide light on the current function of China's OBOR program and suggest ways to ensure its long-term viability.

Evolution of Corporate Accountability for Biodiversity Reporting. Do Stakeholder Capitalism and Institutional Context Matter? A Bibliometric Analysis

ABSTRACTThis article aims to systematize and structure research on biodiversity accounting. We identify the main current areas and dynamics of biodiversity accounting. Therefore, we explore how stakeholder capitalism can contribute to corporate commitments to biodiversity conservation. We also examine how the institutional context plays a role in these commitments. Finally, we analyze how these factors can contribute to global governance to achieve SDGs 14 and 15. We used a mixed‐methods analysis by research synthesis. A bibliometric analysis was performed following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐Analyses) protocol to search and select scientific contributions to be analyzed. Citation analysis is used to map current research fronts. In addition, a bibliographic coupling is performed to identify connection networks in the current literature. We review a sample of 163 studies from the Academic Journal Guide (AJG). We identify research activities on biodiversity accounting between 1993 and early 2023. We used BibExcel and Gephi software packages to perform a scientific mapping analysis based on co‐word bibliographic networks. The R package Bibliometrix is used to perform an algorithmic historiography. The empirical results show the current state of the art on biodiversity accounting and suggest new research trends. Our results are also intuitive, as biodiversity conservation accounting is undoubtedly at the center of global policy discussions. We find from this meta‐analysis that differences in biodiversity accounting practices are due to the wide variety of institutions that have become entrenched over time. This article enriches the current state of the art. It also identifies important themes in the biodiversity accounting literature. This offers valuable theoretical and practical perspectives.

Algorithmic Profiling and Facial Recognition in EU Border Control: Examining ETIAS Decision‐Making, Privacy and Law

ABSTRACTThe growing use of algorithmic and biometric technologies in border control is part of a larger trend in global security governance that has significant legal and ethical implications for their effect on individual rights and procedural justice. As central features in the EU's shifting security regime, ETIAS and facial recognition technologies deploy algorithmic profiling and biometric risk assessment to screen visa‐exempt third‐country nationals. The research systematically examines the decision‐making processes of ETIAS and the overall facial recognition system, demonstrating the interplay between algorithmic risk assessments and discretionary human discretion by national authorities. It contends that the algorithmic profiling lack of transparency, combined with sweeping national security exceptions, produces a procedural void, in which the right to reasoned decisions and effective remedies is compromised. Second, the use of interoperable databases and risk indicators puts core data protection principles into jeopardy, notably purpose limitation and the right to be forgotten. This paper also argues that ETIAS and the application of facial recognition technologies represent a larger trend toward “techno‐regulatory assemblages” in EU governance, where technological infrastructures increasingly influence legal and administrative decisions. It critically assesses whether the human oversight mechanisms incorporated within ETIAS National Units are adequate to prevent the risks involved in automated decision‐making, especially in the face of strict time pressures and security requirements. The study detects a latent paradox: though these systems aim to strengthen a “Security Union,” they might inadvertently lead to an “Insecurity Union” by undermining transparency, procedural protections, and citizen rights.

Study on the Conflict of Norms and the Coordination Mechanism of International Law in the Dispute over the Legal Status of Arctic Waterways—A Juridical Logic Based on the Interpretative System of the “Icebound Area Clause”

The dispute over the legal status of Arctic shipping lanes is essentially a structural projection of the conflict of international law norms in the field of polar governance. Based on empirical analyses and normative research methods, this paper reveals three core contradictions in the dispute over Arctic shipping lanes: the normative conflict between Article 234 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) “Ice-covered Area Clause” and the principle of freedom of navigation under the framework of the international law of the sea, the functional fragmentation of the regional governance mechanism and the systematic mismatch in the method of legal interpretation. Through the deconstruction of typical cases such as the “Polar Sea” incident, the legal dilemma between the claim of jurisdiction of the coastal state and the determination of the attributes of international shipping lanes is demonstrated, and the systemic tension between the Arctic Council’s “hierarchical and differential structure” and the principle of universal participation in the BBNJ Agreement is pointed out. At the theoretical level, the innovative proposal of “normative conflict matrix” model and “dynamic equity principle”, the construction of “three-layer progressive interpretation framework” and “ice coefficient”, and the “three-layer progressive interpretation framework” and the “three-layer progressive interpretation framework”, were all put forward. It has constructed a coordination mechanism that includes a “three-tier progressive interpretation framework” and a quantitative criterion of “ice coefficient”. At the institutional design level, it is advocated that a judicial path be established for the Arctic Special Chamber, and that a “three-stage coordination mechanism” be set up to achieve the integration of global norms and regional governance. With regard to China’s participation in Arctic governance, it is proposed to strengthen the right of legal interpretation through the “special system for scientific research and navigation”, to promote the revision of the Polar Code by relying on the International Maritime Organisation, and to build a dispute prevention system based on the “Arctic Legal Compliance Index”. The study provides solutions with both theoretical depth and practical value for solving normative conflicts in polar governance.

China and the Ukraine war: Global Times’ strategic narratives

The study examines Global Times ’ strategic narratives on the Russia-Ukraine War (2022–2024) by analysing 301 articles through issue, identity and systemic frameworks. It reveals China’s framing of the conflict as a US-Russia proxy war, positioning itself as a neutral mediator advocating multilateral dialogue while critiquing Western hegemony. The narratives portray Russia as a rational actor defending sovereignty, Ukraine as weakened yet reckless, and Europe-EU as internally fractured. Systemically, China projects a multipolar vision, blending realist power dynamics with idealist peace-building. The findings underscore China’s media diplomacy in contesting Western discourse and advancing its global governance agenda.

Fiscal transfers and public health services in China: a macro–micro analysis

IntroductionThis study innovatively integrates functional performance and systemic capacity dimensions to establish a comprehensive evaluation framework for public health services, addressing critical knowledge gaps in fiscal policy-health system interactions.MethodsUtilizing multi-source spatial panel data from 1,871 Chinese counties (2001-2020), we developed a novel assessment system combining structural equation modeling (SEM) and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation. Complementary analyses of 283 prefecture-level cities employed fixed-effects models with instrumental variables to examine fiscal transfer mechanisms.ResultsOur findings reveal: Significant positive association between fiscal transfers and service levels. Dual-path mediation effects: Fiscal expenditure restructuring; Health spending efficiency optimization. Micro-level health equity improvements.DiscussionThese evidence-based results provide policymakers with actionable insights for: Establishing performance-oriented accountability frameworks; Promoting health equity through fiscal system optimization; The proposed multidimensional evaluation system offers a replicable toolkit for global health governance assessment.

Bleak prospects: youth transitions in twenty-first century Britain

ABSTRACT This paper presents data on pay, housing and pension prospects which shows that an inter-generation decline in life chances that had begun by the 1980s is continuing in the 2020s. A difference is that in the 1980s the decline was confined to young people on working class life courses. In the 2020s it spread through the lower middle class into some management and professional occupations. We then ask why there is more acquiescence than resistance from youth in the 2020s. Part of the answer is that depressing life chances by cohort replacement is less likely to lead to organised resistance than straight-forward population-wide income reductions. It is argued that the drivers of inter-generation decline will not go away, and the only effective resistance will involve boosting economic growth which is currently restrained by domestic and global financial governance.