The United Nations and Global Governance in the New Millennium
19 - 21 January 2000
Provisional conference outline
A Rare Opportunity
Every historical juncture provides an occasion to review and reassess the values and institutions that we use to organize human life. The beginning of a new Millennium presents an extraordinary opportunity to consider creative, innovative solutions to the challenges that confront all of us. The success of the United Nations, as it faces an ever more complex and demanding environment, could well depend upon its ability to embrace fresh thinking and realistic reforms.This landmark conference will take stock of key international trends for peace, the environment, development and governance, and consider their implications for the United Nations in the 21st Century. It will provide a forum for eminent scientists and authorities from around the world to engage in a broad and substantive dialogue on the major challenges that exist now and lie ahead. The conference papers will also be used as an intellectual resource base in the preparations for the UN Secretary-General's Millennium Assembly report, making this an opportunity to participate in a major policy dialogue. Furthermore, the workshop conclusions will feed into the broader UN policy discussions leading up to the Millennium Assembly in the Fall of 2000.
Conference Themes
Ideas shape and change the world. At the turn of the Millennium this conference will tie together the worlds of ideas and policy. It will begin with the conviction that academic and policy debates must be integrated if they are to be translated into feasible and relevant options. A number of over-arching themes have been developed which will be applied to all the subjects under discussion within the areas of Human Development, Conflict and Security, Governance, and the Environment.Conference papers, across these themes, will indicate major trends and policy implications/ recommendations that arise from the following issues -
- the impact of globalization
- key challenges in the short and medium terms
- the manner in which national governments and the international community might more broadly address the challenges
- the comparative advantage the UN has, or could have, in working with the international community in addressing the challenges
- potential for partnerships among states, international organisations, commercial organisations, and civil society actors in collectively addressing these challenges
- the element of 'surprise' or unpredictability; potential critical developments
