Francis Baert

Introduction: intersecting interregionalism

This introductory chapter starts with an elaboration of the weaknesses in the study of interregionalism and a presentation of the purpose of the book, namely, to contribute to theoretical reflection and to better understand the diversity of institutional strategies and driving actors engaged in interregionalism. The chapter moves on with a conceptualisation of the multifaceted phenomenon of interregionalism, before concluding with the structure of the book.

The United Nations and the regions : third world report on regional integration

Acknowledgements.- Introduction.- PART I: Regional Actorness and Representation.- Chapter 1: Sovereigntys Evolution: the Role of Regions - Regional Convergence in a Transnational World Carlos Pascual and Holly Benner.- Chapter 2: The Contribution of the Regional UN Economic Commissions to Regional Integration Processes: The Case of ECLAC Edgard Moncayo Jimenez.- Chapter 3: Breaking the Deadlock of Regional Bloc Politics: Cross-Regional Coalitions and Human Rights in the UNGA Robert Kissack.- Chapter 4: Measuring Regional Actorness at the UN Security Council: the EU as a Paragon of Complexity Edith Drieskens.- Chapter 5: Weighted Regional Representation as a Basis for Security Council Reform Joseph E. Schwartzberg.- Chapter 6: Regionalisation, Transnational Democracy and United Nations Reform: A Viewpoint Hans Kochler.- PART II: Regional Organisations and Peace and Security.- Chapter 7: The UN and Regional Organisations for Peace: Tracking a Slippery Partnership Luk Van Langenhove, Tania Felicio and Ademola Abass.- Chapter 8: The UN and the League of Arab States: A Point of View on Future Interaction Amre Moussa.- Chapter 9: UN Cooperation with Regional Organisations in Peacekeeping Operations: A Legal Perspective Ademola Abass.- Chapter 10: The False Promise of Regional Organizations? Rodrigo Tavares.- Chapter 11: From International and Regional Organisations to Global Public Policy Jean-Marc Coicaud and Jin Zhang.- Chapter 12: Hybrid Missions: A Promising Model Resolving the Global-Regional Debate Vesselin Popovski and Annette Fath-Lihic.- Chapter 13: ASEAN, the United Nations, and the Security of Southeast Asia: Problems, Prospects, and Paradox Seng Tan.- Chapter 14. The UN and Regional Organisations: Finding a Balance between the UN and the African Union in dealing with Peace and Security in Africa Marie Muller and Maxi Schoeman.- PART III: Regional Organisations, Human Security, Sustainable Development and Human Rights.- Chapter 15: Reconceptualisation of Security and Regional Dimension of UN Activities: towards a Mediterranean Environmental and Human Security Initiative Hans Gunter Brauch.- Chapter 16: The Regional Input for Delivering as One Kennedy Graham.- Chapter 17. UN System-Wide Coherence and the Regions: The Quest for Reforms Eric Maertens.- Chapter 18. The UN and Regional Social Policy Bob Deacon.- Chapter 19. The UN and the Regions: The case of Health Sector Coordination for Disaster Management in the Caribbean Geert Haghebaert.- Chapter 20: Regionalism and Human Rights at the UN Richard Gowan and Franziska Brantner.- Conclusions Francis Baert, Tania Felicio and Philippe De Lombaerde.-

Are you willing to be made nothing? Is Commonwealth reform possible?

A new round of Commonwealth reform proposals commenced at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting of 2009. An ensuing report, titled A Commonwealth of the people: time for urgent reform, contained a long list of proposals that eventually resulted in 2013 in the adoption of the Commonwealth Charter. Many classic international organizations are in need of reform, but this is, of course, challenging. This new Commonwealth reform process will not lead to satisfying changes and will not make it a more relevant actor in global governance. The year 2015 marks the Commonwealth Secretariats first half-century. We take this symbolic marker to push for a forward-looking exercise, arguing that because the true nature of the Commonwealth is often misunderstood, a better understanding of the organization is essential before embarking on any successful change-management project. In the article we identify four different kinds of Commonwealth: three of a �formal� nature (the official, bureaucratic and the peoples Commonwealth) and a fourth �informal� one (Commonwealth Plus). By describing the potential of these four different kinds of Commonwealth, we can anticipate better the challenges with which the Commonwealth network is faced, both internal (including its mandate, its British imperial past and dominance, the organizations leadership and its membership) and external (other international organizations, other Commonwealths, rivalry with regional organizations and the rise of global policy networks). Consequently, this should lead to a better and more sustainable debate about the Commonwealths future role in global governance.

Reform Starts Bottom‐Up. Can Civil Society Get The Commonwealth Back On Track?

type=graphical xml:id=gpol12257-abs-0001> What we propose is a fundamental change in collaborating with civil society. This should not result in the institutionalisation of civil society, but more the empowerment.