2006 BUCERIUS SUMMER SCHOOL ON GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

2006 BUCERIUS SUMMER SCHOOL ON GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
PARTICOPATION REPORT

Introduction

The 2006 Bucerius Summer School took place from 13 – 27 August 2006 in Germany. With my nomination by the AAI Chief Executive, Mr. Ramesh Singh, I was among the 54 participants selected from 30 countries across the globe. Participants were from different walks of life: from the EU representative on financial markets in the US, to the Marketing Manager of Siemens International based in China, from the Israel Foreign Policy Adviser to the Communications Director of International Atomic Energy (IAE), from Head of Policy of ActionAid International Malawi to Representative of the World Bank in EU. The course was held in Hamburg, Berlin and Paderborn.

This year’s summer school was held under the theme “The World Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities – Problems and Prospects”

Bucerius Summer School

The Bucerius Summer School aims at fostering leadership qualities in young professionals by involving them in an international dialogue on current political, economic, social and legal questions. It provides a forum for cross-cultural exchange between up-and-coming young leaders from around the world who, during a two-week session, learn from and are inspired by well known public figures in politics, business, academia, and the NGO sphere. Supported by the ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius since 2001 (and later joined by the Heinz Nixdorf Stiftun in 2004), the 'Bucerius Summer School on Global Governance' is held annually.

The summer school runs on very high levels of mission as evidenced in the world of the Patron of Bucerius Summer School, Helmut Schmidt: “Anybody who favours more powerful institutions for global governance ought to be aware of the lurking leviathan, namely the ever growing selfish and tyrannical but de facto uncontrollable bureaucracy.” Helmut Schmidt is Former German Chancellor.

2006 Content

In Hamburg

The course started on 13th August with opening and welcome remarks by Prof. Michael Göring, Director of the Executive Board, Prof. Theo Sommer, Dean and Editor-at-Large, DIE ZEIT, Hamburg, and Dr. Oliver Gnad, Project Director, ZEIT-Stiftung. After introductions of participants, Prof. John Ruggie, Kirkpatrick Professor of International Affairs, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University gave first paper on Global Governance – Concept and Reality? He was followed by Prof. Timothy Garton Ash who gave talk on “what chance for a Free World”

Prof Ruggle is the architect of the Millennium Campaign. In his talk, Ruggle sighted examples of showed b=how
In Hamburg:

· The Matrix of Global Governance I: the United Nations and the European Union
· The Matrix of Global Governance II: the Private Sector – Business Without Boundaries
· The Matrix of Global Governance III: Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

In Berlin
· The Security of States: Traditional Concepts
· Societal Security I: Energy Security and the Environment
· Societal Security II: managing Global Public Goods

In Paderborn
· Regional Realities and the Global Power Pattern (I): the Rise of China

Back in Hamburg
· Regional Realities and the Global Power Pattern (II): the Rise of India
· Regional Realities and the Global Power Pattern (II): Capacity Building in Africa

· Governance Beyond Governments: Social Capital and Global Public Networks

· Risk Management: AIDS, Avian Flu and Other Pandemics
· Risk Management: Tsunamis, Earthquakes, Global Warming and Other Catastrophes

· The Future of the West: Global Governance and Global Leadership


Conclusion

The world is changing at an unprecedented pace. This observation is easy to make, and yet few would agree on how to manage this change. Indeed we are in the midst of a fundamental debate about how to govern individual lives, for the benefit of many. Traditional political institutions, anchored in the nation state, have lost influence. On the other hand, other players, like International Financial Institutions, multinational Corporations and civil society organizations, have gained influence. With this reality, the course helped rethink our ways of formulating and implementing policy in ActionAid International. It raises essential questions about the legitimacy, enforceability, and accountability of policy in the so called globalized world. Governance – like government – cannot take place in a political vacuum. Governance needs guidelines, rules, a normative basis. Ours is duty to ensure these do uplift the lives of the poor. Global Governance needs universally accepted and applicable rules – principles which serve as a compass to find our way through the social, political, and economic terra incognita lying ahead. ActionAid International is well placed to be the lead in such alternatives.

Now that I have gone through the course, I am set to confront the challenges to come. I will write a comprehensive report and consider sharing and conductive similar discussions with the staff.