Dr. Richard Ponzio (The Hague Institute for Global Justice) and Dr. William Durch (Stimson Center) delivered the keynote address on the findings and recommendations of the Commission for Global Security, Justice & Governance at the Annual Conference of Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS), held on Monday, October 12 in Washington, DC. A decades-long peace organization and advocate for a strengthened and reformed United Nations, CGS’ forerunner, the World Federalist Association, was founded in 1947 in the aftermath of World War II.

In their presentation, Dr. Ponzio and Dr. Durch highlighted the Commission’s reform program, as well as three major barriers to global governance transformation: First, a lack of political will to change, particularly among powerful countries capable of obstruction. Second, a failure to effectively design and advocate a specific policy or institutional reform. And finally, limited skill and effort invested in sustaining a reform program through completion.

In addition to the Commission’s recommended strategy for reform, the discussion with Citizens for Global Solutions members following the presentation focused on challenges to operationalizing the Responsibility to Protect norm, growing weaknesses within states to manage cross-border economic shocks and other global economic challenges, and innovative ways—including through technology—in harnessing the networks, resources, and talents of increasingly influential non-state actors within civil society and the business community.