Shaping the future for a sustainable quality of life

Abstract

Excessive energy consumption in some regions of the world can lead to floods in some other region due to global heating. A disease neglected because it is rooted far in Africa might become a dreadful epidemic in America. A terrorist organization backed for hitting other targets may, in time, turn the missiles on its supporter. Humiliation and isolation of those with unconventional beliefs and opinions can result in reactions that threaten global peace. The solution to such problems lies only in the solidarity of all mankind. Consequently, governance systems and attitudes must also gain a global dimension as daily life increasingly does so. Today, protection of free trade and clean environment, fight against terrorism and international crime organizations, and issues such as celestial property rights require supra-national governance structures. As important powers and functions are transferred away from the nationstate through consensual delegation of sovereignty, governance is inescapably becoming multilevel, as can be observed from the case of the European Union. The currently developing key issue is the mechanisms required for the inclusion of the masses into these multilevel governance structures.