Global informalism and the G20
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Global informalism and the G20 Steven Slaughter1
© Springer Nature Limited 2020
Abstract This article considers efforts to improve the effectiveness of global governance by examining the nature and consequences of informal global governance by focusing upon the operation of the Group of 20 (G20). It does so by considering the relationship between the existing forms of global constitutionalism, which indicate a foundational role for rules and laws within the existing forms of multilateral global governance, with informal forms of global governance operating with respect to the G20. This is conducted by considering a constructivist understanding of diplomatic practices which operate to sustain international cooperation and better manage multilateral global governance. The article contends that informal global governance is animated by an underlying non-legal disposition of global informalism and is evident in various informal diplomatic practices in the operation of the G20. The article seeks to better comprehend the consequences of informal global governance and challenge the field of global constitutionalism by highlighting the important but problematic nature of non-legal and informal global practices in contemporary global governance. Keywords Diplomatic practices · Global constitutionalism · Global governance · G20 · Informal intergovernmental organisations · Multilateralism
Introduction Processes of multilateral global governance are prominent and established frameworks for political action. Consequently, there are some scholars who contend that the more formal processes of multilateral governance are taking on a deeper and more prescribed structure of being a form of ‘global constitutionalism’ (Wiener et al. 2012; Dunoff and Trachtman 2009). Despite substantial contestation from some states, global constitutionalism is evident in foundational rules and laws within the existing forms of regional and global governance. However, this article contends * Steven Slaughter [email protected] 1
Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia Vol.:(0123456789)
S. Slaughter
that global constitutional forms of global governance are paralleled by other nonlegal foundational elements which are increasingly important. While there is mounting literature on informal global governance (Alexandroff and Brean 2015; Vabulas and Snidal 2013; Pisani-Ferry 2018; Roger 2016), this article claims that the key issue facing global governance is not just its informality but its relationship with global constitutionalism and multilateralism. While there are forms of contemporary global governance that are taking on elaborate and entrenched aspects of global constitutionalism, there are also informal incarnations of governance that are explicitly and purposefully non-legal and non-transparent, which nevertheless attempt to promote coordination and cooperation. This article claims that the form of such arrangements can be referred to as global informalism and that this specific form of contra- or anti-global constitutionalism plays
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