Globalism, governance and growth critical for global progress

Governance and Growth lie at the heart of the Commonwealth's work, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, has reaffirmed. He was speaking at the opening of the 54th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 5 August 2008.

The Secretary-General went on to say that a third 'G' now also forms part of the Commonwealth's vision, that being Globalism, which involves managing globalisation in order to reap positive benefits from the opening up of markets and the move towards a borderless world.

"We are part of a compacting world in which change is unstoppable and so too is the imperative of integration," said Mr Sharma. "The good effects of trade, culture and technology now cross borders as easily as the ill effects of disease, climate change and environmental degradation or terrorism. Global economic phenomena embrace all, whether they are rising energy or food prices, or financial turbulence."

As the Commonwealth straddles the world, the Secretary-General asserted that the association can help to influence and shape globalism. This can be achieved through a globalist outlook by pursuing its goals in alliance with other like-minded organisations and parties.

"We can find new partners beyond our membership, in different intergovernmental bodies, in foundations or the private sector. Everything about the world that we live in and the attributes that we ourselves bring to it, decree that we should continue to look outwards and to invest our huge access and authority for even greater causes. We can see our models of best practice used far beyond our own confines."

The interconnectedness of today's global society, Mr Sharma said, has been accelerated by the internet, while the reach of civil and uncivil society has been facilitated through globalisation. He stressed that the challenges of global society require global scrutiny and responses. Hence the importance of global bodies such as the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in providing a platform for dialogue and action at global forums.

The Secretary-General continued that all Commonwealth leaders had already agreed at their Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala, Uganda, in November 2007 on the need for reform of some key international organisations so that they respond better to contemporary global challenges and needs. He explained that a smaller group of 11 Commonwealth leaders had subsequently met in London on 10 June this year to develop a more detailed common position on rethinking and reforming global institutions.

The next step in the Commonwealth's efforts to promote reform of international organisations would entail a further special meeting of the broader group of all Commonwealth leaders in New York on 24 September 2008, the eve of the High-Level Event on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The special meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government will discuss reform of international institutions as well as progress towards achieving the MDGs, food security, and the impact of turbulence in the energy and financial markets.

Mr Sharma continued that climate change, poverty and terrorism have little respect for national borders. He said the Commonwealth is unfolding an action plan on climate change in particular with regional and global dimensions. Specifically, the association is assisting individual and groups of member countries in their international negotiations for a post-Kyoto deal. The Commonwealth is also mobilising civil society networks of statisticians, geographers, foresters and meteorologists. Best models for land management and forestation are being examined, as well as the development of initiatives in natural disaster preparedness and management.

The Secretary-General stated that the Commonwealth is developing efforts in mitigating the effects of climate change, particularly on small island developing states, as they face the threat of disappearing from the global map.

"Responses to poverty and the quest for development are also universal. There are different routes to economic growth, but economic transformation is a house built on weak foundations without the corollary of political and social transformation. And transformation is of little value if it's not democratic."

On the issue of diversity in a globalised world, Mr Sharma said the Commonwealth Commission on Respect and Understanding, led by Nobel Laureate Professor Amartya Sen, had produced a report last year called ‘Civil Paths to Peace’ which examined the sources of division in societies and the factors that bind diverse societies together.

"The report looked at the fault lines, not just of different faiths, ethnicities and languages, but of young and old, urban and rural, rich and poor. In a melding and interconnected world, a triumph or failure is not for one, but for all," the Secretary-General emphasised.

Click here for the text of the Secretary-General's speech

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