Page 464 - 100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International_V-Petrovsky_private special edition

100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International

not the only actor in prevention and may often not be the actor best
suited to take the lead. Therefore, Member States, international,
regional and sub-regional organizations, the private sector, non-
governmental organizations, and other civil society actors also have
very important roles to play in this field;

• Effective preventive action requires sustained political will on the part
of Member States. First and foremost, this includes a readiness by the
membership as a whole to provide the United Nations with the
necessary political support and resources for undertaking effective
preventive action in specific situations.

The ideas underling conflict prevention have always been part of the Unit-
ed Nations vision. Nowadays when sustainable development addresses the root
causes of conflict, it plays an important role in prevention conflict and enhanc-
ing peace. Moving forward to the promotion of an enabling environment for
sustainable development, it is necessary to pay attention to the globalization
phenomenon, to the hopes and fears associated with it. Many people around
the world feel that their needs are not being met and their voices not heard,
that there is growing inequality and insecurity, that the ground rules are not
fair.

When people feel that important values are being neglected, legitimacy
must be enhanced. Legitimacy comes front a sense of what is right and fair,
whether reasonable demands are met, and whether local, national and global
institutions can deliver what they have promised. The good news is that
democratic transformations are gaining upper hand in many countries.
Constitutional democracies have generally found other ways than fighting to
settle their disputes. This is because constitutional democracy is essentially an
open and transparent system, which contains in-build safeguards against
military adventurism. They have a mechanism of dialogue that help to build
consensus around the policy adjustments that are needed to mediate conflicts
and maintain stability.

States without functioning democratic institutions are holding back their
own people. A healthy state with responsible governance is more than an ad-
ministrator for a nation, it is a facilitator for development from which all sectors
of society and each individual citizen should benefit. As the Secretary-General
states: “Good governance is an accomplishment. It is the fruit of true dedica-
tion, selfless leadership and politics of integrity. Without good governance, the

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