Global Governance and Rivalry

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

Global Governance in an Era of Great Power Rivalry. Global governance is the way countries engage with each other to solve big problems collectively that no single state can fix. Against the current backdrop of wars, famine, climate change, pandemics, and other crises, effective systems of global governance – which require cooperation and compromise – have never been more important. Great power rivalry affects global governance acutely. The Biden Administration has committed to “relentless diplomacy” in the multilateral space. China is asserting its interests abroad with increasing vigor. Russia is embroiled in a UN Charter-busting war with its neighbor. And the European Union is striving to become a geopolitical force. Will these powers’ often contrasting global visions impede collective action to confront the world’s most urgent issues? How do medium-sized and smaller countries fit into the multilateral puzzle? Are current systems of global governance fit for purpose? What could a successful system of global governance look like? The course focuses on the United Nations, which at 77 remains the main multilateral arena where the action of global governance plays out. Through case studies, with particular emphasis on the UN Security Council, it looks in detail at the way the United States, China, Russia, and Europe interact and pursue their interests in the fields of security, development, climate, and human rights policy. The course will also examine other global governance forums, such as the G20, G7, BRICS, and subregional multilateral organizations. Most of the case studies and class content will relate to the real-life professional experiences of the instructor. One of the major learning goals of this course is for students to gain uncommon insights into the mechanisms, tools, and skills of multilateral diplomacy. There will be guest speakers and simulations. This course is taught by Christopher Klein, Senior State Department Fellow with the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, who is on leave from the Department of State; his most recent position was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs. He has also held other senior positions at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and in Asia and Washington.