Introducing Global Solution Networks: Understanding the New Multi-Stakeholder Models for Global Cooperation, Problem Solving and Governance

Abstract

There is a fundamental change underway regarding how global problems can be solved, and perhaps how we govern ourselves on this shrinking planet. Emerging non-state networks of civil society, private sector, government and individual stakeholders are achieving new forms of cooperation, social change and even the production of global public value. They address every conceivable issue facing humanity from poverty, human rights, health and the environment, to economic policy, war and even the governance of the Internet itself. Enabled by the digital revolution and required by the challenges facing tradi-tional global institutions, these networks are now proliferating across the planet and increasingly having an important impact in solving global problems and enabling global cooperation and governance. Call them Global Solution Networks. Yet to date there has been no systematic study of this phenomenon or an attempt to understand the potential in improving the state of the world. Little has been done to evaluate what makes these networks tick, how they succeed or fail, what impact they have and how they address the tough issues of legitimacy, accountability, representation and transparency. This paper sets the framework for a multi-million dollar global investigation of the new models, conducted by The Martin Prosperity Institute at the University © 2014 Don Tapscott innovations / volume 9, number 1/2