Governance versus Leadership?

Leadership and global governance become increasingly important as the globalized international system continues to be at the throes of a prolonged crisis. This weekend as leaders of the G8 are meeting in Washington, and NATO leaders are meeting in Chicago the agenda is dominated by topics related to the global trouble spots including: regional and political developments and security issues; economic and global issues; energy and climate issues; food security; economic transition of Afghanistan; transition in the Middle East and North Africa.

At the top of the agenda is the Eurozone crisis and the situation in Greece, which beyond anything else and regardless of perspective is indicative of the lack of policy buy-in by citizens in advanced democracies in dealing with the current crisis. On one level the global institutional network, which includes among others, the G8 and G20, the IMF, the World Bank, the EU, NATO defines global governance from the top. As the policy output fails to address the issues and in fact the crisis spreads, the effectiveness of the institutions are questioned and leadership is sought elsewhere. The frontrunners in the upcoming Greek and Mexican elections are indicative of the popular dissatisfaction with current policies to address chronic political dysfunction. The main challenge that Mr. Tsipras in Greece and Mr. Peña Nieto in Mexico will face is the ability to immediately while convincing  a disillusioned citizenry that the road from perdition is long. 

As a recent Washington Post article indicates, "Of the 14 crisis-hit European countries that have elections since 2009, nine have new leadership. Effective governance, democracy, and ultimately ability to inspire toward long-term common goal while delivering short-term benefits,  defines leadership.