The Changing Nature of Global Problem-Solving
Speakers Series

Précis
The growing scope of global interdependence increasingly necessitates international policy solutions to tackle the critical issues of economic development, peace and security, environmental conservation, health management, and poverty alleviation. Despite the sense of crisis now prevailing in the formal multilateral system, a range of innovative multilateral efforts to formulate and implement effective policy responses to international problems have emerged in recent years. They include hybrid institutional arrangements, public-private partnerships, and new types of corporate social investments, among others.
The Center’s project on New Dimensions of Multilateralism seeks to chart these new modalities, and assess their appropriateness. By bringing together practitioners, policy makers and analysts in both study group format and in public meetings, CIC intends to promote an independent assessment of these efforts, identify lessons from workable programs, and highlight this positive side of current multilateral cooperation.

Speakers Series
In order to examine the evolving nature of multilateralism, clarify the roles of non-governmental actors, assess these new modalities for addressing transnational and global problems, as well as their impact on formal intergovernmental institutions, CIC formed a core study group (Core Group). The Core Group, consisting of senior members of multilateral organizations, NGOs and corporations, as well as policy analysts, will consider illustrative cases in a year-long Speakers Series focused on the implications of these and other trends in multilateral arrangements.

The Speakers Series will be open to Core Group members as well as to a wider set of constituents within the multilateral community. Presentations by speakers, selected from among individuals who have undertaken innovative approaches to tackling transnational problems and opportunities, will be complemented by commentary from analysts whose experience enables them to assess these initiatives in particular sectors. The Center staff will prepare a series of background policy briefs on innovative models in various areas of multilateral activity.

To make this project more than just an academic exercise, the New Dimensions of Multilateralism Project seeks to foster an open, off-the-record exchange between people who are working in these new initiatives and experts interested in them. By stimulating dialogue between the key actors in the IGO, NGO, corporate and academic communities, the Project attempts to provide these actors with the opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences and to assess the applicability of innovative forms across sectors and program areas.

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