Forum: Complex Systems and International Governance

That we live in an age of complexity and transition is hardly news. Ours is the age of interconnections, ambiguity, and uncertainty; of the diffusion of authority; of various kinds of revolutions: military, technological, social, political, economic, and even philosophical. What springs from these developments is the feeling of a lack of control. Decision-makers either think they have no other option but to act as they do or are paralyzed by the uncertainties and conflicting pressures they face. The usual solution is to try to reassert control, which leads to new problems. Paradoxically, as our tools to make sense and control societies and our environment increase, our ability to do so diminishes

Theorizing norm diffusion within international organizations

International Organizations (IOs) promote and diffuse norms within world politics. This prompts the question: where do these norms come from? This inquiry analyses how IOs have been perceived within the emerging norms literature where IOs are \u27norm diffusers\u27 within the international system, and finds that the way in which IOs themselves internalize norms has not been taken into account. This poses a potentially fruitful new avenue of inquiry into why and when IOs behave as norm diffusers. An interpretation of when and why IOs internalize norms is offered by positing that IO identities are not fixed and that they are \u27norm consumers\u27 socialized by state and non-state actors.<br /

Biodiversity targets after 2010

The bold commitment made by the world's governments to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010 will soon be tested. On the basis of the continuing declines measured by most indicators, it now seems inevitable that the outcome will be that it has not been achieved. Here, in order to build on the momentum created by the 2010 target, we propose a shift away from a large set of static targets towards a smaller number of specific targets. Specifically, we present three categories of targets (red, green and blue) with examples of each. These relate respectively to (1) those biodiversity outcomes that must be avoided to avert situations that are deleterious for people, (2) the highly valued biodiversity conservation priorities, and (3) an improved scientific understanding necessary for adaptive management now and into the future

O conceito de bacia de drenagem internacional no contexto do tratado de cooperação amazônica e a questão hídrica na região The concept fo international drainagem basin in the context of amazon cooperation treaty and the water question on that region

O trabalho visa analisar a tutela dos recursos hídricos amazônicos à luz do Tratado de Cooperação Amazônica (TCA). Há que se fazer uma releitura dos artigos IV e V do TCA, tendo-se em vista a teoria da bacia de drenagem internacional, estabelecida pela International Law Association, em 1966, mas somente incorporada ao Direito Internacional, de maneira ampla, através da Convenção sobre a Utilização dos Rios Internacionais para Fins Distintos da Navegação (ONU, 1997).<br>The purpose of this paper is to analyze the guardianship of the Amazonian water resources in the Amazon Cooperation Treaty. Its important to review the Treaty's 4th and 5th articles , considering the international drainage basin theory, created by the International Law Association, in 1966, widely adopted by international law with the Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses (UN, 1997)

Managing global change for sustainable development: technology, community and multilateral environmental agreements

Environmentally sound technologies, Community participation, Sustainable development, Empowerment, Local and indigenous communities,