The social basis of international cooperation

Many areas of pressing global concern can be addressed successfully only th rough international collective action. But can effective and efficient solu tions be found if questions of distribution, equity and justice are side-st epped? The liberal tradition assumes that some combination of international cooperation and coercion to produce global public goods is possible, even on the basis of self-interest alone. This article argues that equity must b e at the core of a framework for international cooperation. The potential v alue of equity may be considered at three different levels. First, equity a nd justice promote cooperative behaviour, itself needed for the provision o f public goods. Although social cohesion may not be an absolute preconditio n in the supply of public goods, its value lies in making cooperation easie r and giving global rules greater legitimacy and sustainability, Second, wh en the system is perceived to be fair and equitable, nations will participa te in it willingly; otherwise, their contributions individually and collect ively will tend to be insufficient to make the system work well, or at all. Third, global equity is itself a public good that, without cooperation or coercion, may be under-supplied.