Built for a different age, different threats, and a different balance of world power, our current multilateral system does not fully meet today's global security challenges, ranging from climate change and nuclear proliferation to civil strife and terrorism. No nation, including the United States, can insulate itself from these threats nor solve these transborder problems alone.

The Center on International Cooperation, The Brookings Institution, and Stanford University are undertaking a joint project entitled Managing Global Insecurity (MGI). The goal of MGI is to provide recommendations and generate political momentum for the next American president, the United Nations, and key international partners to launch a strategic effort to revitalize the multilateral security system in 2009. The MGI Project will build international support for global institutions and partnerships that can foster international peace and security--and the prosperity they enable--for the next 50 years.

MGI is soliciting feedback from policymakers and experts in the U.S. and internationally to reflect a broad spectrum of perspectives in MGI's recommendations. A successful effort to strengthen the multilateral security system will require a shared vision that reflects diverse regional priorities. Recognizing that U.S. support will be essential, MGI will demonstrate not only the limits of unilateralism, but that an effective multilateral security architecture is vital to protect U.S. national security interests. Themes from consultations abroad regarding appropriate U.S. role in a reform agenda will be reflected back to U.S. policymakers.

The Managing Global Insecurity (MGI) Project has released “A Plan for Action,” a comprehensive set of foreign policy recommendations for the next U.S. president—and other world leaders—to address the most critical challenges facing the world today. Based on 20 months of research plus U.S. and international consultations, the MGI Plan provides a strategy for advancing this complex but critical agenda. Brookings will host a distinguished panel of experts to discuss the MGI Plan for Action, including former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright; EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana; former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Thomas Pickering; UN Development Program Administrator Kemal Dervis; and Brookings President Strobe Talbott. The event will be led by MGI Project co-directors Carlos Pascual of Brookings, Stephen Stedman of Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation and Bruce Jones of New York University’s Center on International Cooperation.

Executive Summary
A New Era of International Cooperation for a Changed World: 2009, 2010 and Beyond

More details about the project's approach and goals are available in the project overview. You can also read more information about MGI on the Brookings Institution web site.

Project Principals:
Bruce Jones, Director, Center on International Cooperation at NYU
Carlos Pascual, Vice President, Foreign Policy Studies, Brookings Institution
Stephen Stedman, Professor and Senior Fellow, CISAC, Stanford University

Project Staff: Catherine Bellamy, Richard Gowan

Advisory Group Members: Click here for a full list of International and US advisory group members.

Top of Page

Jean-Marie Guéhenno joins CIC
December 2008

Jean-Marie Guéhenno, former U.N. Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, has joined the Brookings Institution and the Center on International Cooperation (CIC) at New York University as a Senior Fellow.

A Plan for Action
November 2008

The Managing Global Insecurity (MGI) Project has released “A Plan for Action,” a comprehensive set of foreign policy recommendations for the next U.S. president—and other world leaders—to address the most critical challenges facing the world today. Based on 20 months of research plus U.S. and international consultations, the MGI Plan provides a strategy for advancing this complex but critical agenda.

Transatlantic Dialogue on Revitalizing the International Security System
September 2008

On September 26-27, 2008 in New York City, the Managing Global Insecurity (MGI) Project, the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and the Brookings Institution Center on United States and Europe (CUSE) gathered representatives and experts from the United States and across Europe to discuss U.S. and European priorities for reform of the international security system.

Responsible Sovereignty: International Cooperation for a Changed World
June 2008

Heads of international organizations and foreign policy leaders from around the world met in Berlin, Germany on July 15 and 16 to discuss the future of international security and cooperation. The MGI event focused on the idea that all states, whatever their politics and interests, share duties to their citizens and each other in tackling common threats like terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and global climate change.

Discussion with Senator Chuck Hagel
June 2008

MGI hosted Senator Chuck Hagel for a discussion of U.S. foreign policy in the context of the 2008 presidential campaign. Senator Hagel examined the global challenges that the next president will inherit and the responsibilities of the presidential candidates to address these challenges.

Project Update
May 2008

Read more about current activities in the most recent project update.