2008. vol. 3. No. 5

M. Larionova, Director of the International Organizations Research Institute, State University – Higher School of Economics

The paper looks into the main outcomes of the summit at Hokkaido Toyako, its achievemnets and failures. The analysis focuses on the main factors contributing to the summit success, and challenges for forging consensus,  drawing conclusions for future summitry. Assessing contradictions between the G8 and G5 and other outreach countries surfacing in the summit documents, the author possits that the Heiligendamm process is developing into a new “G5” and that the fomular of expanded participation changes the nature of the summitry.

J.J. Kirton, professor, Director of the G8 Research Centre, University of Toronto (Transl. by J. Zaitsev, Eds. M. Larionova)

The paper deals with the current debate over the Group of Eight  (G8) architecture reform, which are taking place in political, public and scholarly worlds. The case for the G8 reform the criticisms of its supposed loss of effectiveness and legitimacy, lack of broad geographic representativeness and commanding global power. According to J. Kirton, there are no reform proposals justified by logical and empirical analysis considering how they would fit with and influence complex G8 system. The author aims to fill in this gap. In the paper on the basis of G8’s 1975-2007 performance he analysis three important dimensions of the reform – “outreach”, “in-reach” and “down-reach”, the latter two not featuring in the debate, and how the changes could affect G8’s performance in the future. The first dimension – “outreach” – has long received most of attention in the G8 reform debate. It concerns a question of how many and what countries and international organizations should be invited to be a full permanent member or partial participant of the G8 summit. The second dimension of the reform debate – “in-reach” - is less deliberated and relates to thickening the structure of G8 by developing ministerial and official - level institutions across many policy fields. And the third dimension analyzed by the author – “down – reach” – deals with democratization of the G8 system by bringing a wide range of civil society sectors into the G8’s global governance. Author argues that G8 reform strategy for the future should be based only on the simultaneous consideration of all these three components.

N. Simonia, Head of Chair of Political Problems of World Energy, Department of World Politics and International Relations, HSE; Head of Center for Energy Studies, Institute of World Economy and International Relation, Russian Academy of Science

This paper was prepared for the international seminar “From Heiligendamm to Toyako Summit and Beyond: Priorities for the Future Agenda and Options for Reform” sponsored by the International Organizations Research Institute of State University Higher School of Economics, which was held on 15-16 May 2008. It addresses the current issues of the world energy security and efficiency, namely oil crisis, oil market competition, energy policy of the major oil suppliers and development and use of new technologies for non-traditional energy sources. The author argues that the current oil crises is in the sphere of politics (politicization of energy problem) and is not a result of limited oil sources, because the greatest share of proved oil resources is still underground. Dr. N. Simonia considers Russia’s position in the world energy policy relations. He touches on the energy issues scramble between Russia and USA  and deals with the current European energy policy supported by USA, which ducks mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia and is directed towards consolidation of a single gas market in Europe, that, due to author, is not the reality. In conclusion N. Simonia insists that efficient cooperation and energy security can be achieved only on equal terms and on the principles defined by the Saint-Petersburg Plan of Action on Energy Security. 

G. Safonov, Head of the SU-HSE Center for Economics of Environment and Natural Resources

The article is devoted to one of the main challenges for human society in the 21st Century, which is the global climate change. It is G8 who must play a leading role in addressing this challenge now. The leaders of industrialized nations have adopted a range of commitments to mitigate climate change through development and implementation of national and international schemes for greenhouse gas emission reduction, radical improvement of energy efficiency, use of renewable and clean energy technologies, promoting sustainable development in the world. Russia is one of the key partners of the longer-term global climate deal, who has both domestic and international commitments and interests in development of the low carbon society in the future.

A. Settles, Professor, Faculty of Management, Deputy-Director of the Corporate Governance Centre of the State University-Higher School of Economics

The paper was prepared for the international seminar “From Heiligendamm to Toyako Summit and Beyond: Priorities for the Future Agenda and Options for Reform” organized by the International Organizations Research Institute of State University Higher School of Economics, which was held on 15-16 May 2008. It looks into the role of transnational corporations in global governance system. Today transnational corporations began to realize that pollution, climate, poverty and negative effects of globalization may effect their bottom line and therefore try to be involved into decision-making process, rule setting and implementation of solutions. According to A. Settles, the realization of the fact that corporations must be part of the solution to global governance challenges has been translated into participation of these corporation in the efforts of multilateral organizations as well as action to comply with commitment to corporate social responsibility. A. Settles outlines engagement of transnational corporations into the G8 process through participation in G8 Business Summits, investments and implementation of G8 commitments. In conclusion the author emphasizes that business leaders are slow and weak in dealing with the global problems, so the fact that G8 remains government centric is significant.

Y. Zaytsev, Researcher of the International Organizations Research Institute, State University – Higher School of Economics

The paper considers participation of international organizations in the 2008 G8 Toyako Hokkaido Summit. The analysis focuses on assessment of international organizations’ contribution into G8 summit outcomes, modes of international organizations cooperation with G8, specific mandates delegated to international organizations by 2008 G8 forum.

M. Rakhmangulov, Researcher of the International Organizations Research Institute, State University – Higher School of Economics

The paper reviews bilateral meetings of the G8 leaders during the Hokkaido Toyako summit. The number of meetings (more than 50) indicates the importance of the summit as an opportunity for bilateral talks. «Outreach 5» and 3 other major economies account for about 40% of all meetings, which underscores their importance in developing effective responses to global challenges.

IORI HSE-G8 Research Team (Eds. E. Gorbunova, M. Larionova)

2007 Heiligendamm G8 Summit Final Compliance Report for Russia was published in the last issue of the Bulletin of International Organizations. This issue presents 2007 Heiligendamm G8 Summit Final Compliance Report for Japan, which holds the current G8 Presidency.