Leadership, Human Needs, and Values: The Importance of World Constitutionalism

Abstract

This article introduces the twin themes of leadership and global constitutionalism. Today, we have a global constitution: the UN Charter. It has evolved into a weak instrument of global governance, and it needs to be strengthened by wise and brave leadership. The article provides a short overview of the historic emergence of constitutionalism, stressing the importance of the Atlantic Charter and the Four Freedoms. The article explores the complexities of leadership in a global social process context, and suggests a few modest changes to the structure and function of the UN system that may boost the power of the UN Charter as a juridical instrument. The article explores the emergence of human needs and values from the global social process and the challenges that these problems pose for global leadership. The article then provides a summary of the keynote precepts and challenges that require vigorous promotion and defense by leadership. It next provides a map of value needs and institutions on a global level and ties these issues in, with essential value needs in the UN Charter and the International Bill of Rights. This is to underscore the importance of these challenges for human survival. The article concludes with a careful analysis of the crisis of global climate change and the importance of this challenge for global leadership. The challenges in the UN Charter, the International Bill of Rights, as well as those arriving from the current pandemic and climate change, will all influence the survival of humanity as a whole. The urgency of brave and courageous leadership is now imperative.

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