Mini-symposium on multilevel governance of interdependent public goods. Introduction and overview : a research agenda for making 'global public goods theory' more policy-relevant

Abstract

This symposium summarizes the main conclusions of an interdisciplinary conference on Multilevel Governance of Interdependent Public Goods at the European University Institute, Florence, in Spring 2011 and reproduces 4 of the altogether 15 conference papers.1 This ‘Introduction’ identifies areas where global public goods theories need further research. The ‘keynote speech’ by WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy gives a unique policy perspective on ‘Global Governance: From Theory to Practice’. Inge Kaul’s paper on ‘Global Public Goods Theory: Explaining the Underprovision of International Public Goods and Corrective Strategies’ offers a summary—by one of the leading researchers on public goods theory—of the main ‘collective action problems’ impeding multilevel governance of interdependent public goods. ‘The G-20 and Global Economic Governance: Lessons from Multilevel European Governance?’, by Jan Wouters and Thomas Ramopoulos, discusses the policy question of whether reforms of the G-20 meetings can and should be inspired by European experiences of multilevel governance. Daniel Esty and Anthony Moffa explore ‘Why Climate Change Collective Action has Failed and What Needs to be Done Within and Without the Trade Regime’. One major conclusion of the symposium is that economic and political ‘public goods theories’ neglect law and constitutionalism as instruments for producing ‘aggregate public goods’. Remedying this neglect requires integrating legal and constitutional theories into public goods research. Reconciling, on the one hand, the power-oriented ‘ethos of diplomats’ focus on promotion of ‘national interests’ through ‘rule by law’ with, on the other hand, the justice-oriented ‘ethos of constitutional democracies’ focus on cosmopolitan rights protecting individual and democratic self-development through ‘rule of law’ remains the biggest challenge in protecting international ‘aggregate public goods’ in the 21st century.