Global Compact: Washington Consensus and Social Democracy

Author: David Held
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features:
● I found this book very inspiring; it doesn’t just analyze the issue of global order but also provides a credible solution for global multilateral cooperation.
● This is a book written specifically for our time. – Robin Cook, Former British Foreign Secretary
● David Held has written a brilliant book, exploring the major problems that political decision-makers are grappling with in the post-9/11 era. Everyone concerned with the future of the world should read this book. – Javier Solana, Former Secretary-General of the European Council
● A rare book that blends sociological imagination, with in-depth analysis and solid empirical evidence, revealing a new perspective on political architecture: an outstanding integrative study over the past decade. – Jürgen Habermas, Professor at the University of Frankfurt
Professor David Held’s Global Covenant created a huge impact in the international academic community upon its publication in 2004. This was largely due to his academic standing. Held has made significant contributions not only in democratic theory and international relations but also in globalization and global governance, where he was one of the earliest observers, the most enduring analyst, and the most influential. In Global Covenant, Professor Held explores the failures and crises in international politics following 9/11 and the Iraq War. He argues that in the face of the severe challenges posed by global terrorism and political violence, the Washington Consensus has become ineffective and a new path must be found to address these issues, which he calls the "Social Democratic Consensus." This approach not only addresses current challenges but also offers political and social justice.
To find this consensus, Held examines the structural changes in the global order in this book, dividing it into three parts: economic, political, and legal. In each part, he analyzes the current major trends, the challenges faced, and provides a series of detailed policy recommendations. According to Held himself, another major contribution of the book is its critical review of the current academic debates surrounding the global order. For those seeking answers to globalization and global governance—political scholars, policymakers, students, and general readers—this book is an invaluable read.