Thursday, March 15th, 2018 The G20: Past, Present, and Challenges for the Future

Description

Abstract:
This talk introduces the updated Chinese edition of The G20: Evolution, Interrelationship, Documentation (original edition published by Ashgate/Routledge 2014) and the fully revised second edition being prepared for publication by Routledge). The book provides a historical overview and analysis of the evolving agenda, methods of performance evaluation, relationship with structured international organizations and other external actors (civil society, the business sector, non-member states); an analysis of G20 documentation and other sources of information; and a comprehensive bibliography. The aim is to present an updated, accurate analysis of the current state of the G20 and the challenges it faces. It is also intended as an authoritative work of reference.
The book traces the origins and predecessors of the G20; surveys the G20 finance ministers’ meetings since 1999 and the series of G20 summits since their launching in 2008; reviews the evolution of the G20 agenda; discusses the question of G20 membership; surveys the components of the G20 system (ministerial meetings, working groups and other sub-summit entities); analyses the relationship of the G20 with external actors; surveys and analyses reform proposals and reforms already achieved; looks at the relationship between the G7/G8 and the G20; examines the question of evaluating G20 performance; surveys the pattern of documentation of G20 summits and sub-summit groups; and reviews other sources of information (writings about the G20, think tanks focusing on G20 research, memoirs of prominent G20 participants, creative works, and websites and social media).

Biography:
Peter Hajnal is a Fellow of Senior College and Research Associate, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto. He has been a member of the G7/G8/G20 Research Groups since 1988 and attended fourteen G7/G8/G20 summits as a media correspondent. He is also a member of the Academic Council on the United Nations System, the Union of International Associations, the Association of Former International Civil Servants and the American Library Association. Before his retirement he was Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Information, University of Toronto for 11 years. He also served as librarian for 25 years at the University of Toronto and 10 years at the United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld Library in New York. He was consultant at the United Nations, in post-Yugoslavia Macedonia, at the Civil G8 project in 2006 in Russia, and the Graham Library, Trinity College, University of Toronto, and assessor of the 2005 G8 Stakeholder Consultation for Chatham House.
In addition to a number of articles, book chapters and conference presentations, he is author or editor of ten books, including Civil Society in the Information Age (Ashgate, 2002); Sustainability, Civil Society and International Governance: Local, North American and Global Perspectives (Ashgate, 2006; co-edited with John Kirton); and The G8 System and the G20: Evolution, Role and Documentation (Ashgate, 2007, also published in Russian and Chinese editions). His latest book is The G20: Evolution, Interrelationships, Documentation (Ashgate/Routledge, 2014); an updated Chinese edition was also published. His current research focuses on preparing a substantially updated second English-language edition of The G20 (referenced above), to be published by Routledge. He is also a participant in the Canadian National Security Archive, a project of the Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History. In addition, he continues to play an active role in Senior College of the University of Toronto as a member of the Program Committee, and co-chair of the refugee support group.