The Globalization Of Politics: The Changed Focus Of Political Action In The Modern World
The welfare of individuals, the author contends, no longer depends on the actions of their own governments but on international bodies taking action collectively. This thesis is developed by examining the role of a wide range of institutions, from the IMF and World Bank to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, which deal with such fundamentals as the environment, redistribution of wealth, security and human rights. In his carefully reasoned analysis, Luard pushes the concept of "globalization" to its outer limits, concentrating on his vision of the future more than the present situation in which states still cling to their sovereignty. Realism comes through in the discussion of the need to move away from "one state equals one vote" in some international organizations toward a system of weighted voting, if these institutions are to become more effective.
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A major strategic challenge for the United States in the coming decades will be integrating emerging powers into international institutions. To hold the postwar order together, the United States will have to become a more consistent exemplar of multilateral cooperation.
The United Nations has stepped forward to meet the challenges of a world simultaneously fragmenting and going global. The world body has led the way in defining human rights, assisting states as they grope toward democracy and the market, calling attention to ignored conflicts, and cooperating with nongovernmental organizations. But it cannot fulfill its destiny unless its members provide it with the funds and resources it needs. A strong and independent secretary-general is the key to the U.N.'s future.
The performance of the world economy in 1983 is difficult to characterize. For the industrialized market economies--members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development--it was the year of the long-awaited recovery after the second oil shock of 1979-80. World trade began to revive after two years of stagnation and decline. There was continuing good news about inflation in the OECD area. Business and especially consumer confidence improved. A major rupture in the world financial system was averted through effective, concerted crisis management led by the International Monetary Fund, whose role was further enhanced by an infusion of new resources. The heavily-indebted developing countries demonstrated considerable progress in external adjustment: indeed the largest Latin American debtors accomplished an amazing turnaround in trade performance.

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