The Davos-based World Economic Forum has just published the third annual report of its Global Governance Initiative. The past year was rated slightly less dangerous than 2004 but still a long way from being safe and secure. The United Nation's 60th Anniversary World Summit in September, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen and revitalize the multilateral system, proved disappointing in the security agenda.
There was important movement on postconflict peace-building and the new "responsibility to protect" norm was embraced without much more of real substance. The Security Council remains as is, and leaders were unable to agree on a norm-setting definition of terrorism. The attempt to establish a set of guidelines identifying criteria of legitimacy for the use of military force failed. On disarmament and nonproliferation, scandalously, no agreement whatever could be reached despite the critical urgency and gravity of the threats.
Iraq remains the defining battleground. The elections last January were relatively successful, but disenchantment with the political process led to low voter turnout among Sunni Arabs and their under-representation in the interim National Assembly.