Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 3, 2025

On “What Makes Governance Work” in Global Governance

(Abstract)

Ding Huang

Global governance, as a scientific theory, absorbs diverse cultures and the wisdom of humanity, necessitating integrated innovation. As a great practice, it demands trailblazers to lead, multiple stakeholders to unite, and the dissemination of successful experiences alongside principled ideals. China’s proactive efforts to reform and reshape the global governance system are based on the Sinicization of governance theories and the theorization of its governance experiences. By critically reassessing and sublating the unipolar hegemonic system, this paper advocates reconstructing the constitutive elements of a more equitable and just global governance system. It explores pathways to global governance within the UN-centered international system, adhering to “System Dynamics.” Through perspectives of solidarity and mutual aid, a majority-oriented approach, and “inclusive coexistence,” this framework seeks to enhance the subjectivity and intersubjectivity, popular orientation and public nature, consultative and progressive nature, and diversity and networked structure of global governance. Subsequently, it aims to refine the normative basis of global governance, encourage participation from multiple actors, and seek solution to liberation of mind to disintegrate the logic of hegemony.