Meeting the Grand Challenges of Planetary Governance: Is it Time for a Paradigm Shift?

The 21st century has given rise to a growing class of challenges that are difficult – perhaps impossible – to address effectively within framework of the existing global order. While numerous factors play a role in causing this problem, this essay focuses on difficulties arising from the influence of the paradigm of "relative gains maximization" as a determinant of the course of interactions among actors on a global scale. Following an account of the nature and impact of this paradigm, the essay explores prospects both, for reforming the paradigm to ameliorate its effects and for more transformative changes featuring the development of a new paradigm. The way forward is to develop perspectives that highlight the need for cooperative measures to address common concerns arising in a world of complex systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]