STWR - Share The World's Resources

By embracing the ‘neoliberal consensus’, European social democrats have failed to offer a meaningful alternative to the free market ideology of the right. To remain a force in progressive politics, social democracy must rediscover its egalitarian roots, argues Philippe Marlière.

To avert the triple crises of finance, climate change and political trust, political power must shift from centralised sources to citizens and civil society. This change will enable the growth of a healthier economy and democracy, says a report by the Carnegie UK Trust.

There is a close link between awareness of problems such as poverty and climate change, and active support for tackling them. Ensuring people have opportunities to learn more about global issues will prevent us from turning inward in a globalised world, says a report by DEA.

The most widely endorsed decision-making systems, such as representative and referendum democracy, have serious flaws. Political institutions must be redesigned to enable greater deliberation and participation in the making of policies, argues Stephen Shalom.

The financial crisis has created a newfound recognition that global problems cannot be solved by nation-states acting alone or solely on the basis of self-interest. Governments and non-state actors must cooperate to address shared concerns and collective threats, writes David Held.

Global governance remains ill-equipped to address challenges such as terrorism, climate change and food insecurity. We need genuine multilateral cooperation and renewed institutions to manage shared risks, says a report by the Center on International Cooperation.

The coming year will be crucial in shaping how governments make decisions internationally. Rather than retreating to elite clubs such as the G20, powerful nations should embrace a truly participatory multilateralism through the United Nations, writes Martin Khor.