Global governance: New organizational concepts in a culturally diverse system

This paper argues that as the West re-balances with the East in 21st century global governance, new organizational concepts – with their associated forms and structures – will emerge. Of particular interest will be two organizational concepts. One is 'harmonious world' (hexie shijie), as articulated by PRC President Hu Jintao at the United Nations in 2005. It provides a nuanced Confucian form of global governance, adding to existing forms and norms of international organization. The other is 'mandalic regionalism'. Drawing from Indian strategic and spiritual tradition, it better explains the types of multilateral regional structures that are developing in Asia. Both Confucian form and mandalic structure are compatible. They can even be mutually enhancing where the state provides political will, as in the case of China with its expanding network of multilateral relations. Western concepts of global management will themselves adapt to the diversity of multiple worlds, including those of Chinese and Indian import. In doing so, the West will reinvigorate its own conceptual frontiers in advancing the still formative phenomenon known as 'global governance'.