NEWS
GLOBAL GOVERNANCE IN A MULTIPOLAR WORLD: IDEAS FROM THE GLOBAL SOUTH
Facilitators
Co-Founder and CEO at reState Foundation; Ecosystem Steward at SuperSymmetry Institute
Theorist and activist, Founder of the P2P Foundation
participants
Economist and political leader, former Prime Minister of Iraq
Editor-in-Chief of Al-Watan, a Bahraini newspaper
Economist, academic, and former Prime Minister of Armenia
Head of Marketing at Delphinus Lab
Director General of the NUST Institute of Policy Studies and Principal at NUST, Pakistan
Co-Founder and CEO of Kravata
Partner, Yakov and Partners
Executive Director, Eurasia Competitiveness Institute
Founder and CEO of BWS, Blockchain Web Services
Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation in Andorra
Assistant Professor at Universidad del Salvador, Argentina
Environmental sociologist and author, proponent
of the Bioregional State
President of the Iraqi National Project
Founder and Chair of the Meta Economic Forum
Program Director
of the Egyptian Pollution Abatement Program
Political analyst, academic, and author, contributor to La Jornada and El Financiero
Founder of Tools for the Commons
Public Policy Strategist, former Head of Public Policies at Binance
Founder of Mippo
CEO and Co-founder of Tanssi Foundation
Partner and CEO,
Yakov and Partners
Founder oETH-iopiaia,
Business Developer at Tools for the Commons
Attorney General for the State of Paraná, Brazil
Session Summary
The session "Global Governance in a Multipolar World: Ideas from the Global South" gathered leading thinkers and innovators to explore the future of global governance in a world characterized by increasing multipolarity. The conversation highlighted the significant role of the Global South in driving forward new governance frameworks, emphasizing decentralized systems, the transformative power of digital technologies, and the urgent need for governance models that are both adaptive and inclusive. These models aim to empower local communities while fostering global collaboration in an era where traditional state-led governance systems are struggling to keep up with technological advancement.Historical Shift and the Rise of Network Sovereignty
The session opened with a discussion of the historical shift from centralized governance structures to the emerging model of network sovereignty. With the rapid rise of digital nomadism and decentralized technologies, traditional nation-states and their centralized control mechanisms are increasingly being questioned. These shifts are not only altering how people live and work but also how governance systems are structured. The decentralized nature of technologies like blockchain enables a profound rethinking of governance, allowing individuals and communities to take control of their own decision-making processes, bypassing outdated state-driven models that struggle to keep pace with the rapidly changing digital landscape.Network States as
the Future of Governance
Central to the session was the idea of network states — digitally mediated, culturally coherent communities that transcend geographic borders. These network states can empower communities to self-organize, innovate, and collaborate on a global scale. By leveraging decentralized technologies, such as blockchain and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), these communities can bypass traditional state-led governance systems that are often slow, inflexible, and disconnected from the needs of local populations. In contrast, network states enable more transparent, efficient, and inclusive systems, allowing for governance that is as dynamic and adaptable as the digital platforms that underpin it.A key proposal was the idea of inflating the commons instead of the state. Decentralized systems, particularly those based on Web3 technologies, could provide the foundation for governance models that are more flexible, responsive, and grounded in the shared interests of communities. These systems would prioritize the commons — the collective, digital, and natural resources that belong to everyone — over traditional state mechanisms. By moving away from rigid state structures, communities would have the ability to create and enforce their own rules, driving innovation while ensuring that governance remains connected to the needs of the people it serves.
Creating Supranational Entities for the Global South
Rather than simply shifting from one set of nation-states to another — such as BRICS as an alternative to Western-led institutions — the session proposed that the Global South should explore the creation of entirely new forms of governance. These governance frameworks would be supranational entities that leverage the Internet as both a territory and a platform for governance. The idea of using the Internet as a foundational layer for governance allows for transnational cooperation that is not constrained by physical borders or outdated bureaucratic systems. In this context, the Global South has a unique opportunity to create governance models that are innovative, flexible, and scalable, offering global solutions to local challenges.The Public-Private Frontier in Governance Innovation
Another significant theme of the session was the evolving role of the public-private frontier in the creation of new governance models. Large digital platforms and private companies are already creating parallel governance systems that often bypass traditional regulatory frameworks. These systems, which are increasingly governed by tech giants and digital economies, offer valuable lessons for how the private sector can collaborate with public entities to create governance models that are practical, scalable, and aligned with the needs of local communities.These private-sector-led governance experiments provide important insights into how decentralized and digitally-enabled systems can help address the inefficiencies of traditional state-based governance. The potential for a public-private collaboration in shaping the future of governance was seen as crucial for ensuring that these new systems are inclusive, transparent, and responsive to the diverse needs of different communities.
Human-Centric, Care-Based Governance Models
A major theme of the session was the emphasis on human-centric governance, particularly through the lens of care-based systems. These systems prioritize the well-being of individuals and communities, ensuring that governance frameworks not only foster economic efficiency but also nurture the human experience. Care-based governance models emphasize community care, social equity, and environmental sustainability, aiming to balance the rapid pace of technological change with the need to protect and enhance people's lives and social structures.Human-Centric, Care-Based Governance Models
A critical aspect of the session was the role of blockchain in empowering local communities. Blockchain technology can provide a more transparent, accountable, and secure system for governance that can be tailored to local needs while remaining globally connected. By enabling secure digital identities, decentralized finance, and blockchain-based governance tokens, communities can participate more fully in global governance, ensuring that their voices are heard and their needs are addressed.Blockchain’s potential to create distributed, secure, and transparent systems provides the foundation for governance structures that are not only more efficient but also more equitable. Through the use of smart contracts, digital currencies, and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), blockchain allows for the creation of governance frameworks that can be directly controlled by the communities they serve, reducing the influence of centralized, external entities.
Empowering Local Communities through Blockchain
A critical aspect of the session was the role of blockchain in empowering local communities. Blockchain technology can provide a more transparent, accountable, and secure system for governance that can be tailored to local needs while remaining globally connected. By enabling secure digital identities, decentralized finance, and blockchain-based governance tokens, communities can participate more fully in global governance, ensuring that their voices are heard and their needs are addressed.Blockchain’s potential to create distributed, secure, and transparent systems provides the foundation for governance structures that are not only more efficient but also more equitable. Through the use of smart contracts, digital currencies, and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), blockchain allows for the creation of governance frameworks that can be directly controlled by the communities they serve, reducing the influence of centralized, external entities.
The Importance of Measurability and Accountability
A recurring theme throughout the session was the need for measurable outcomes to evaluate the effectiveness of new governance models. Without clear metrics for sustainability, governance models risk becoming theoretical exercises that fail to deliver tangible results. Participants stressed the importance of establishing measurable standards for key areas such as environmental sustainability, economic resilience, and social equity.One critical tool in achieving these goals is the circular economy, which integrates environmental, economic, and social considerations into a single framework. By focusing on resource efficiency, waste reduction, and regional resilience, the circular economy model offers a practical way to create more sustainable and equitable systems of governance. Moreover, digital platforms can play a pivotal role in facilitating global coordination and enabling lateral learning across different regions, ensuring that governance remains responsive to both local and global challenges.