Make Global Body Broader

Timothy Garton Ash argued last week in the Guardian for expanding the G8 to a G14, adding Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and South Africa. Though somewhat arbitrary and still exclusive, he believes this new configuration would be more representative of global trends and a more credible cast of characters for tackling global dangers and aspirations. He attacks the argument that expanding the G8 too far would "dilute the lifeblood of common values," citing the inclusion of Russia. But he believes shared values, albeit minimal, should unite the grouping:

[Countries] committed to ensuring a future for humankind on this planet; a reasonable stability of the world economic system; and as much human dignity for as many human beings as the self-interested policies of states and the selfishness of voters will allow? To those minimal goals, even Putin's Russia can commit. And undemocratic China, too.

Can such meetings ever evolve beyond the annual photo op, hot air, and puffed chests? Ash is optimistic:

At the very least, the world's emerging great powers would have to think about, and take positions on, matters of wider responsibility which they might not otherwise confront. And the world's waning great powers could get used to listening to what the waxing ones have to say.