ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores how governments cooperate in response to advancing globalisation as the 21st century begins. It concentrates on the G8 summit, which brings together the heads of state or government of a small group of major powers. The book examines the record of each of the summits held since fundamental reforms were introduced at the Birmingham summit in 1998. It assesses the performance of these summits in the principal economic and political issues they selected for treatment. The book explores the consequences of the reforms both for the summit format, agenda and participation and for the wider G8 apparatus. It judges whether the summits since 1998 have improved their performance against their original objectives of political leadership, collective management and reconciling domestic and international pressures.
