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Fen Osler Hampson, Carleton University, Fen_Hampson@carleton.ca

The world confronts a wide range of complex global problems that include resource (renewable and non-renewable) depletion, environmental degradation or pollution, climate change, loss of biodiversity, deforestation, water shortages, population growth, financial stability, nuclear proliferation, infectious diseases, etc. Many of these problems are running ahead of humanity's ability to solve them and there is a growing gap in the capacity of existing international institutions to solve or manage them. International institutions and treaties commonly work too slowly to address the most burning global issues. Many intergovernmental conferences lack proper follow-up mechanisms. And, in the eyes of some, current G8 and other institutions of global governance have serious limitations of exclusivity, unrepresentativeness, and leadership far too removed from the people whose interests they purport to serve.

This section is interested in exploring the theoretical and practical aspects of international collaboration around complex global issues. We are interested in papers and panels that (1) offer new theoretical insights into the theory of international collaboration; (2) assess the strengths and weaknesses of existing collaborative mechanisms (formal and informal) to deal with complex global issues; (3) discuss practical ways of strengthening or improving existing collaborative mechanisms; and (4) explore alternative forms and approaches to international collaboration and governance.

We are also interested in papers and panels that discuss the role and importance of different kinds of leadership in dealing with complexity and promoting international collaboration to resolve complex global issues. This includes issue-based networks which have tended to form fortuitously when leadership has been provided by foundations, philanthropists, intergovernmental organizations, and the attractant qualities of key personalities.