Stanley Foundation: Multilateralism as Problem Solving

Vladimir Sambaiew, President of the Stanley Foundation, recently had an op-ed in the Des Moines Register that very neatly sums up the argument on how multilateralism can work to address (if not always solve) global problems. Sambaiew’s focus is on the G-20 and “responsible stakeholdership.”

Two phrases help explain today’s leadership context: the “G-20” and “responsible stakeholdership.” Nations that make up the G-20 represent more than 80 percent of the world’s population and economic output. Since the first summit in November 2008 hosted by then-President George Bush in Washington, the leaders of 19 nations plus the European Union have met four times to deal with the world’s continuing economic and financial difficulties. The early November Seoul G-20 summit was the first time the group met outside North America and Europe.

As the crisis phase of the global economic downturn passes, the G-20 grouping faces questions about its longer-term role – not just for its mandate of economic diplomacy, but for international cooperation more broadly. The strength of the G-20 is that it represents a solid cross section of today’s leading nations. Unlike the U.N. Security Council, the G-20 includes six representatives from Asia alone (Australia, China, Japan, India, Indonesia, South Korea) and includes leading nations from all world regions.

Sambaiew’s op-ed draws on the overall mission of the Stanley Foundation that, in their own words,  “is focused on promoting and building support for principled multilateralism in addressing international issues.”

They are focused on four initiatives at the moment:

• Human Protection
• Evolving Global System
• Nuclear Security
• Community Partnerships
  

Their website and publications offer a wealth of policy analysis and timely information that is both accessible and detailed.   I participated in one of their events  –  on UNSCR 1540 and WMD – and was impressed.  The Stanley Foundation does excellent work and they also serve as a reminder that Washington does not have a monopoly on good ideas about international relations (they are based in Muscatine, Iowa).