Whether time moves linearly or circularly, is subject to debate in the natural and social sciences. Meanwhile, the FFD4 process suggests the primacy of circularity, at least when reading the draft outcome document’s references to “Official Development Assistance” (ODA). In brief, the document calls for scaling up the volume of ODA (colloquially foreign aid) along with suggestions for improving the quality (effectiveness) and governance structures of ODA. However, these key points on ODA are largely similar to respective sections of the 2015 FFD3 outcome document. (mehr …)
Many observers have expressed frustration with the G20’s growing ineffectiveness after its stellar role in averting a global financial meltdown and deep recession following the 2008 crisis. Its subsequent performance has never quite matched up to that as the body traversed from crisis to recovery mode. Consensus and cooperation has eluded it more often than not since, in part because of shift in focus to more complex, underlying economic issues.