About Global Policy Forum
UN Security Council
Through the program on the UN Security Council, GPF works to strengthen international peace and security. The GPF website on the Security Council makes available analysis and documents about the Security Council and related issues, such as sanctions, natural resources in conflict, small arms and peacekeeping. GPF looks beyond the purely political issues to consider the global competition for natural resourcess and other economic drivers of conflict. GPF organizes the NGO Working Group on the Security Council, bringing together thirty major NGOs for private and informal meetings with Security Council ambassadors and high UN officials. Every year we organize about 40 such meetings, facilitating discussion and action on peace, conflict, disarmament and humanitarian issues. Over the years, GPF has produced many original papers about the Council and its operations, including Council reform, the veto, NGO interactioin with the Council, and the Iraq conflict.
Social and Economic Policy
Through a major program on Social and Economic Policy, GPF addresses the world's economic and social system, including issues such as instability, inequality, and crisis. We have a special interest in the interconnection of social/economic and security issues and we promote sustainable development and social justice. The GPF website supplies articles and analysis on a wide range of topics, such as hunger, policy reform, the accountability of transnational corporations, development financing, offshore financial centers, and global taxes. GPF organizes the NGO Working Group on Food & Hunger at the UN and we work actively on world hunger issues. We regularly organize conferences and roundtables on a variety of social and economic policy matters. Previous events have covered topics such as the UN global compact, global taxes, financing for development, tax justice and reform of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). We also publish analytical papers on these issues.
Through a major program on Social and Economic Policy, GPF addresses the world's economic and social system, including issues such as instability, inequality, and crisis. We have a special interest in the interconnection of social/economic and security issues and we promote sustainable development and social justice. The GPF website supplies articles and analysis on a wide range of topics, such as hunger, policy reform, the accountability of transnational corporations, development financing, offshore financial centers, and global taxes. GPF organizes the NGO Working Group on Food & Hunger at the UN and we work actively on world hunger issues. We regularly organize conferences and roundtables on a variety of social and economic policy matters. Previous events have covered topics such as the UN global compact, global taxes, financing for development, tax justice and reform of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). We also publish analytical papers on these issues.
NGOs
Through our program on NGOs, GPF advocates for a greater NGO voice at the UN and in the global governance process more generally. GPF seeks to understand the nature of NGOs, how they work, their accountability and their representativeness. We have many NGO partners and we work to organize NGO networks and consultative groups. GPF has organized conferences and meetings on this subject, we have produced policy papers and worked to improve NGO interaction with the UN Secretariat. and the UN system The GPF website provides one of the world's best sources for analysis, documents and publications on NGOs in the global governance process.
Through our program on NGOs, GPF advocates for a greater NGO voice at the UN and in the global governance process more generally. GPF seeks to understand the nature of NGOs, how they work, their accountability and their representativeness. We have many NGO partners and we work to organize NGO networks and consultative groups. GPF has organized conferences and meetings on this subject, we have produced policy papers and worked to improve NGO interaction with the UN Secretariat. and the UN system The GPF website provides one of the world's best sources for analysis, documents and publications on NGOs in the global governance process.
Globalization
GPF's Globalization program analyzes the economic, political, cultural and legal aspects of globalization and suggests alternatives to the current corporate-driven globalization in which so many people lose livelihoods, cultural identity and social ties. The website provides a wide-ranging research tool for anyone interested in learning about the topic.
GPF's Globalization program analyzes the economic, political, cultural and legal aspects of globalization and suggests alternatives to the current corporate-driven globalization in which so many people lose livelihoods, cultural identity and social ties. The website provides a wide-ranging research tool for anyone interested in learning about the topic.
Empire
GPF's Empire program looks at the concept of "empire" and explores the utility of this framework for understanding the current role of the United States in the global system. Often, the single superpower undermines multilateralism and diminishes international cooperation. GPF's Empire website covers US military and economic expansion, US unilateral policy towards the UN and and US rejection of international law. This work also examines challenges to US hegomony as well as historical comparisons of the US global role with former empires.
GPF's Empire program looks at the concept of "empire" and explores the utility of this framework for understanding the current role of the United States in the global system. Often, the single superpower undermines multilateralism and diminishes international cooperation. GPF's Empire website covers US military and economic expansion, US unilateral policy towards the UN and and US rejection of international law. This work also examines challenges to US hegomony as well as historical comparisons of the US global role with former empires.
Iraq
GPF's program has closely followed the conflict in Iraq over more than a decade and the GPF website on Iraq is one of the world's most comprehensive. We continue to examine the US occupation, as well as the role of the United Nations in the country. GPF has published numerous articles and reports on Iraq, on topics including the role of oil in the conflict and the sanctions regime after the first Gulf war,
Nations & States
Through the Nations & States program, GPF analyzes the changing roles of states and sovereignty. The web section provides materials on how the global economy - through export processing zones, tax havens etc. - is challenging state sovereignty. It also looks at formal political integration through the European Union, MERCOSUR and the African Union. GPF also looks at citizenship and nationality, unrepresented peoples, microstates and experimental states.
Through the Nations & States program, GPF analyzes the changing roles of states and sovereignty. The web section provides materials on how the global economy - through export processing zones, tax havens etc. - is challenging state sovereignty. It also looks at formal political integration through the European Union, MERCOSUR and the African Union. GPF also looks at citizenship and nationality, unrepresented peoples, microstates and experimental states.
International Justice
GPF's International Justice program looks at the changing nature of international law and advocates for a strong international justice system. The website covers the courts and war crimes tribunals related to the UN system, including the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and the war crimes tribunals for Rwanda and former Yugoslavia. GPF also posts information and analysis of the US Alien Tort Claims Act and the doctrine of Universal Jurisdiction.
UN Finance
Through the program on UN Finances, GPF analyzes the UN's financial condition and advocates for additional and more reliable funding for the UN's many important programs. The UN budget is smaller than that of the Tokyo fire department and the world body has at times been close to bankruptcy because of US arrears and a US-imposed cap on the UN budget. GPF has organized several events on the UN's financial difficulties. In addition, GPF has created the world's most complete tables and graphs to present the financial picture of the entire UN system. We advocate for full payment of arrears and we promote alternative funding options such as global taxes to pay for UN programs and other pressing global priorities.
Through the program on UN Finances, GPF analyzes the UN's financial condition and advocates for additional and more reliable funding for the UN's many important programs. The UN budget is smaller than that of the Tokyo fire department and the world body has at times been close to bankruptcy because of US arrears and a US-imposed cap on the UN budget. GPF has organized several events on the UN's financial difficulties. In addition, GPF has created the world's most complete tables and graphs to present the financial picture of the entire UN system. We advocate for full payment of arrears and we promote alternative funding options such as global taxes to pay for UN programs and other pressing global priorities.
UN Reform
GPF's program on UN Reform seeks to strengthen the UN and the multilateral order. GPF's UN Reform site is one of the most comprehensive on the internet, covering reform of the UN organs, the UN's financial crisis, and the role of new actors, such as NGOs and business, at the UN. GPF has published various papers and other information arguing that any real reform must solve the UN's financial woes, US unilateralism, disproportional power of the permanent members of the Security Council, the absence of real disarmament, and the shaky and unjust global economic order.
GPF's program on UN Reform seeks to strengthen the UN and the multilateral order. GPF's UN Reform site is one of the most comprehensive on the internet, covering reform of the UN organs, the UN's financial crisis, and the role of new actors, such as NGOs and business, at the UN. GPF has published various papers and other information arguing that any real reform must solve the UN's financial woes, US unilateralism, disproportional power of the permanent members of the Security Council, the absence of real disarmament, and the shaky and unjust global economic order.
Internships
Through our Internship Program, GPF welcomes annually about 18 university students and young professionals to work in three teams at our office in New York. In recent years, GPF has hosted more than 170 interns from more than thirty countries. GPF receives about 200 applications annually and we select very talented and well-qualified candidates. The interns enjoy considerable responsibility and they participate in a luncheon series that puts them in touch with senior members of the UN community -- NGO leaders, diplomats and Secretariat officials. GPF supports former interns with letters of recommendation and our alumni network provides career and personal contacts worldwide. The program prepares future leaders, who will promote a more just and cooperative global society.
Through our Internship Program, GPF welcomes annually about 18 university students and young professionals to work in three teams at our office in New York. In recent years, GPF has hosted more than 170 interns from more than thirty countries. GPF receives about 200 applications annually and we select very talented and well-qualified candidates. The interns enjoy considerable responsibility and they participate in a luncheon series that puts them in touch with senior members of the UN community -- NGO leaders, diplomats and Secretariat officials. GPF supports former interns with letters of recommendation and our alumni network provides career and personal contacts worldwide. The program prepares future leaders, who will promote a more just and cooperative global society.