In
the
8th
Käte
Hamburger
Lecture,
Prof.
Andrew
Cooper
will
examine
the
rise
of
pivotal
informal
summitry/organizations,
above
all
the
G20
and
the
BRICS,
and
the
implications
of
this
phenomenon
for
global
governance.
At
a
basic
level
informal
organizations
differ
from
the
formal
institutions
such
as
the
United
Nations
(UN)
and
the
International
Monetary
Fund
(IMF)
in
a
number
of
key
ways:
membership
structure;
foundational
or
legitimizational
character
and
level
of
bureaucracies.
This
shift
from
a
hub
club
to
a
focal
point
network
can
be
interpreted
as
a
sign
of
constraint
with
a
loss
of
momentum.
At
the
same
time,
this
shape
shifting
has
potential
for
innovation
in
modes
of
cooperation.
Notwithstanding
images
of
fragility,
both
the
G20
and
BRICS
have
consolidated
their
positions
as
focal
points
in
which
key
global
issues
are
discussed
if
not
negotiated.
While
meriting
attention
for
their
own
unique
characteristics,
the
G20
and
BRICS
can
also
be
used
as
a
barometer
for
how
and
where
regional
organizations
are
bending
towards
similar
informal
patterns.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014