Dramatic flows of refugees and
migrants—generated in part by the grinding conflict in Syria—have
exposed gaps in multilateral efforts to end violence and address
humanitarian emergencies, demonstrated how weakness in international
institutions affects the most vulnerable communities, and testified to
the need to improve international coordination and burden sharing.
Meanwhile, divergent views on global economic governance and
international internet regulation have roiled both markets and
government relations. The absence of a region-wide security organization
in Asia complicates growing tensions over competing maritime claims. To
consider how best to address these challenges, thirty-nine delegates
from twenty countries gathered for the Council of Councils Fifth Annual
Conference in New York City.
The report, which
you can download here, summarizes the discussion's highlights. The
report reflects the views of workshop participants alone; CFR takes no
position on policy issues.
Framing Questions for the Workshop
Managing Flows of Refugees and Migrants
What
are the primary shortcomings in the global regimes for supporting
internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrants? How can global
capacity, funding, and coordination for humanitarian action be improved?
How might humanitarian support be better linked with development and be
more responsive to the needs of individuals unable to return to their
home countries? What would successful outcomes for the 2016 World
Humanitarian Summit and the high-level meetings on refugees planned for
the opening of the UN General Assembly be? What reforms are necessary to
current international institutions and legal instruments governing
global migration?
Preventing the Next Global Economic Crisis
What
were the major lessons from the 2008 global financial crisis, and did
the reforms implemented in its aftermath address the systemic
vulnerabilities it had revealed? What are the primary sources of
instability in the global economy today? What role should multilateral
institutions and forums, such as the International Monetary Fund and the
Group of Twenty (G20), play in preventing another global crisis—and are
they adequately equipped to do so now? Will voluntary regulatory
reforms and nonbinding policy– coordinating bodies keep pace with the
globalization of the financial system? Will new institutions, such as
the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and New Development Bank,
compete with or complement existing institutions like the World Bank?
What is the global impact of divergent monetary policies among advanced
economies, and can their negative consequences be mitigated?
Assessing the Syrian Crisis
What
are the current prospects for sustainable peace in Syria, and how can
the United Nations contribute to these negotiations? What does the
prolonged crisis mean for the role of the UN Security Council as the
premier body for ensuring international peace and security? Are major
world powers and regional actors playing a productive role in the Syrian
peace process? What role can multilateral institutions play in the
event of a lasting cease-fire?
Moving Forward on Global Internet Governance
Are
there areas of consensus that can form the basis for bridging the
divide between competing views on internet governance? Can steps be
taken to help governments, the private sector, and civil society build
consensus on establishing global cyberspace rules for beyond what has
been agreed to at the UN Group of Governmental Experts? How can
transparency be improved in cyberspace to monitor the implementation of
cyber-enabled economic espionage agreements such as the 2015 U.S.-China
agreement and the 2015 G20 Communiqué? Do data localization policies
undermine data security and privacy?
Framing an Asian Security Architecture
What principles, norms, and rules might form the basis for a comprehensive Asian security architecture? Does the experience of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe hold any promise as a model for security and cooperation in Asia? What role can existing multilateral institutions and forums, including regional institutions, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) or the ASEAN Regional Forum, play in moving toward a consensus? What are the main obstacles? What role should the United States and other major powers outside Asia play in helping provide security in Asia?
