Global governance theory

• comprehensive nature of regimes in the late modern world
• linked to global representative institutions (UN) etc
• so we can best describe/explain this in terms of global governance.

governance = the government of society ( through means other than a formal government) ( 'governance without government' = title of book by James Rosenau and Carl-Otto Czempiel)

Global governance theorists agree with regime theorists that the state is still basically a nation-state, world government is not possible, and there is plurality of actors.

• but argue that regimes should not be seen as a single pattern of increasing global governance, through the structure which is created by all the different regimes and international organisations.
• extend the debate by recognising the role of non-state or civil society actors, as well as states and international organisations, in creating/maintaining global governance.