Connectivity, Contestation and Cooperation in Global Governance (CONNECTIVITY)

In spite of an ever accelerating globalization and connectivity, our world is confronted with an increased contestation of universal and cosmopolitan principles and values. Especially human rights and the rule of law are criticized as “Eurocentric” or “Western” as part of complex dynamics involving concepts like sovereignty, self-determination and global norm diffusion. The present multidisciplinary research program starts from the hypothesis that the current gridlock in international affairs is grounded in fundamentally different conceptualizations of the core values and concepts on which international cooperation rests. To test this hypothesis we propose an in-depth, multiple-method and comparative analysis of how these values, principles and concepts are conceived by states and non-state actors in different countries (United States of America, Brazil, India, Japan, China, Russia and Egypt). This will generate (i) a fundamental re-thinking of theories that are built on the assumption of globally accepted values, (ii) new essential knowledge on the impact of differences on international law and relations, and (iii) key insights for finding new common ground to foster international cooperation.

Keywords:Global Governance, Gridlock, International Cooperation, Contestation, International Law and Politics

Disciplines:Law, Other law and legal studies