Social Democratic Origins of Global Governance (1976–1992)

Abstract

This paper clarifies Brandt's purpose in organizing the Commission on Global Governance (1992–1995).
First, Brandt's purpose in organizing the commission was derived from his ideals as the chairman of the SI (Socialist International) (1976–1992). The SI was reestablished in 1951 on the basis of the ideology of social democracy. It primarily aims to empower politically, socially, and economically weak people around the world, including those in developing nations.
Second, as the chairman of the SI, Brandt proposed an ideal of “Welt-Innenpolitik,” which can be identified as the original idea underlying the commission's model for global governance (“Welt-Innenpolitik” can be roughly translated as “world domestic politics”). According to this ideal, the human race shares common interests in the globalized world, and, therefore, it is imperative to develop a comprehensive world order, unrestrained by sovereignty, in order to achieve the common interests.
Moreover, since all human beings share common interests, the responsibility to cooperatively resolve poverty in developing nations falls upon all of us, in the development of Welt-Innenpolitik. In sum, in proposing the ideal of Welt-Innenpolitik, Brandt primarily aimed to resolve poverty in developing nations.
Third, during the 1980s, Brandt was concerned about the rise of neoliberalism. This was because, from the ideological viewpoint of social democracy, Brandt believed that neo-liberalism worsens poverty in developing nations, due to its proclivity to encourage the pursuit of economic self-interests at the cost of the welfare of less advantaged people, including those in developing nations.
Fourth, Brandt insisted that the SI renew its efforts to resolve poverty in developing nations, given the above development. Toward this end, Brandt urged the SI to draw people's attention to the poverty prevailing in developing nations. Moreover, Brandt suggested that the SI propose a new world order that would induce people to focus on worldwide problems, including those of poorer nations, mirroring his own ideal of Welt-Innenpolitik.
Fifth, to heighten the mass appeal of his idea for a new world order, Brandt and the SI organized the Commission on Global Governance as an ideologically neutral entity that would not be swayed by ideological peculiarities. In order to achieve this, Brandt and the SI almost intentionally concealed the fact that the commission was organized on the basis of the goals and human resources of the SI.
In sum, Brandt and the SI organized this commission as a front, to conceal its real entity, the SI, so that Brandt's ideal of Welt-Innenpolitik could be more widely accepted as “global governance.”