With
all our differences about who is to blame, NGOs,
governments and business leaders can generally
agree that the global commons has become a wild
frontier. Shoot-outs between the good and bad guys
have become the norm, and something must be done
to assert order in this chaos. Among the culprits
are renegade businesses that buy political privileges
and crime networks trafficking drugs, arms and
sex slaves. Some members of the NGO caucus on Global
Accountability have called for stronger legal instruments
such as a Global Deal that would make multinational
corporations accountable. The World Economic Forum
Task Force on Global Governance that includes eminent
leaders like Jagdish Bhagwati and Vandana Shiva
has focused on how global partners can take on
international crime and armed conflict.
While
international reforms can go a long way to bring wrongdoers
to justice, if we expect to change what's happening
locally, we are going to need more help from city authorities.
The development goals we want to achieve - reducing
climate change, better water management and ending
poverty - all need to be put on city councils' agendas.
That's because, in the modern era, cities are open
eco-systems interacting with international trends.
Furthermore, the sheer scale of influence wielded by
local authorities is impressive. The UN estimates that
by 2030 more than half of the world's population will
live in urban areas.
Cities
are microcosms of what plagues global governance
today. A good example comes from
New York City's experiences with corruption
and development. In the early 19th century,
Boss William M. Tweed and his Tammany Hall
machinery ruled New York City during one of
the most corrupt chapters in American history.
An ex-fireman and former commissioner of public
works, Tweed saw the power of mass politics.
City officials offered New Yorkers, particularly
new immigrants, jobs and favors in exchange
for votes. Tweed's pet project, the construction
of the Chamber Street Courthouse, was supposed
to cost $258,000. Twelve years later it was
still unfinished and the bill was up to $13
million. By the end of his reign, he had channeled
money through the city council for the Brooklyn
Bridge, Central Park and scores of new city
streets; he had also stolen $50 million for
his own use while his machinery siphoned off
millions more from lucrative contracts and
kickbacks. The upper classes "looked the
other way" as real estate values skyrocketed
in a period of expanding city construction
and public works spending.
This city scenario is not behind us. In thousands
of urban centers around the world corruption
continues to be a major obstacle to sustainable
development. It is time to make sure that city
leaders are more aware of how their decisions
affect international development, but efforts
thus far are sporadic. The World Health Organization's
Healthy Cities programme is a start. The Habitat
conference opened its doors to local authorities,
and Earth Summit 2002 is engaging mayors in
the process. Beyond these initiatives, governments
need to devise a more consistent long-term
plan to support city leaders to do their part
as global players. Commitments need to be backed-up
with information about international treaties,
technical expertise, the transfer of clean
technologies and financial aid to help cities
meet international standards. Most important,
governments should show stronger support for
reformists and journalists who, as in Tweed's
time, are helping to bring corrupt politicians
to justice. Let us reward honorable city citizens
as equal partners in international governance.
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