What Is the Global Governance Forum's Approach to Global Governance?

The Global Governance Forum (globalgovernanceforum.org) describes its approach as "evidence based solutions to governing globally." Its stated premise is that "mechanisms of international cooperation, capable of acting on behalf of the interests of humanity and the planet, are due." In practice, the Forum works toward that goal by publishing research on improved or alternative models of global governance, organized around issues that already connect countries, and by developing concrete reform proposals—most visibly a draft "Second United Nations Charter."

The Core Argument

The Forum's framing is that existing international institutions were built for a different era and need mechanisms that can act on behalf of humanity and the planet as a whole, not only on behalf of individual states. Its research is presented as evidence-based: proposals are tied to specific governance problems rather than general appeals for cooperation.

How the Work Is Organized

Explore by Subject

The Forum organizes its research by issue area, described on the site as "issues that already bind humanity together." The subjects listed are:

• Climate Change
• Gender Equality
• Extremes of Wealth and Poverty
• Education for Transformation
• The Rule of Law
• Peace and Security
• Corruption and Transparency
• UN Reform
• Migration and Population

Each subject area functions as an entry point into the Forum's research on improved or alternative governance models.

UN Charter Reform

UN reform is the Forum's most developed workstream. The site presents a document titled A Second United Nations Charter: Modernizing the UN for a New Generation, described as the product of a diverse and experienced group of individuals exploring what Charter reform might entail and what a new Charter could look like. The Forum frames it as "an invitation to a much-needed conversation" about what a reformed Charter could contain to help the UN confront 21st-century challenges.

Related materials on the site include:

• Protocols complementary to the Second United Nations Charter (available as a PDF download)
• A revised Statute of the International Court of Justice (available as a PDF download)
• Article 109, referenced in the site's navigation in connection with Charter reform

Coalition Initiatives and Indexes

Beyond subject research, the Forum lists coalition initiatives and measurement tools:

• Global Governance and International Cooperation
• Gender Equality and Governance Index
• Global Catastrophic Risk Index
• Occasional Papers

The site also references a publication, Managing Global Catastrophic Risks in the 21st Century, which it describes as offering proposals from twenty-eight contributors for reforming existing international institutions.

What Else the Site Offers

The Forum's site includes sections on its vision and mission, its approach to global governance, how it works, and its history, plus media coverage and a photo gallery. It also publishes a blog, lists events, and offers a podcast. A Donate option is present, and the site's payment platform is Stripe.

Recent featured content listed on the site includes:

How to Use the Site

If you want to understand the Forum's reform agenda, start with the Second UN Charter document and its complementary protocols, then move to the subject pages for the issue areas you care about. If you are researching a specific theme—climate, gender equality, migration, or rule of law—the "Explore by Subject" section is the most direct route. For ongoing output, the blog, occasional papers, events, and podcast provide the Forum's current material.

One caveat: the site presents proposals and research rather than binding policy. The Charter reform documents are explicitly framed as a starting point for conversation, so treat them as advocacy and analysis rather than adopted frameworks.