History

 

Ideas of the necessity to study global processes first visited me in the course of an investigation into issues pertaining to the formation of   the present-day Russian and St. Petersburg entrepreneurship. The monograph “Sketches on entrepreneurship sociology” (St. Petersburg: Petropolis, 1999) neatly discloses classical and modern theories of entrepreneurship. Since the Russian business was just recovering its feet and a particular social community of entrepreneurs was in the making, it was necessary to study the experience of developed countries in positioning and supporting a civilized entrepreneurship.

 

One of the conclusions from the generalized experience has become the understanding of today’s global business that actually ignores borders and sovereignties. With the current state of global transportation, information and communication networks, capital intensively flows to the regions and countries where a favorable business climate has been created and maximum profits can be reaped. However, global capital moves are hampered by instability of macroeconomic and economic processes on the Earth.  There came the recognition of the necessity and realization of practical value of sustainable development strategy and policy.

 

At the threshold of the third millennium, ecological, social and economic problems are aggravating, gradually interweaving themselves into a system crisis of the mankind’s current relationships with nature, between countries, ethnic communities and religions. In the 60s of last century the first to sound the alarm were European scientists who united in the so-called “Roman Club”. Their comprehension of ecological limits to economic and demographic growth determined the necessity to look for all-planetary solutions.

 

In 1992 in Rio de Janeiro 179 states discussed and adopted the historic document “The XXI-Century Agenda” which sets forth the strategy and program for cooperation between countries of the world for the next century in the interests of sustainable development of mankind. Implementing the program implies 2500 types of coordinated joint work in 150 domains.

 

It is stated in the final document of the conference in Rio de Janeiro that: «mankind is surviving a crucial span in its history. We are faced with the problem of perpetuation of disproportions both between countries and within individual countries, with the exacerbating problems of poverty, hunger, deteriorating health of the population and illiteracy, and with the continually worsening state of ecosystems which our welfare depends on. However, a complex approach to environmental and developmental problems and paying greater attention to them will help satisfy primary needs, raise the living standard of the whole population, and foster a more effective protection and rational use of ecosystems and ensuring of a more secure and successful future. No country is able to attain this alone; however, we can do it by uniting our efforts based on global partnership in the interests of ensuring sustainable development.

 

The agenda for the XXI century is devoted to the present-day pressing problems and also is aimed at preparing the world to solve problems it will confront in the next century. It reflects global consensus and adoption at the highest level of political obligations concerning cooperation in developmental and environmental issues. Responsibility for its successful implementation is imposed on governments in the first place. National strategies, plans, policy and processes are crucial for reaching this goal. International cooperation must stimulate and supplement such national efforts. Within this context the UN system is called to play a decisive role. Other international, regional and subregional organizations also should support these efforts. Also encouraged should be as wide public involvement as possible and active attraction of nongovernmental organizations and other groups to these activities.”

 

Since the time of holding the conference, over 100 countries have created national conceptions and have been implementing sustainable development programs.

 

In 1996 Russia adopted the first version of the “Conception of transition of the Russian Federation to sustainable development.” In 1997-1998, projects of sustainable development strategies were proposed, but never approved. On October 2, 2000, the State Duma Commission for sustainable development problems held parliamentary hearings of these documents. Recommendations were addressed to the President, Federal Assembly and Government, and a working group was created to finalize these documents.

 

The State Duma Commission for sustainable development problems worked out “Scientific fundamentals of sustainable development strategy of the Russian Federation” stating that the world community would have to construct a new model of the XXI-century state compatible with the sustainable development conception.

 

The author, being an assistant to the commission chairman Academician M.Ch. Zalikhanov, took active part in this work. The work resulted in the publication of two monographs and preparation of a doctoral thesis entitled “Formation and mechanisms of realizing the strategy of sustainable development of society” successfully defended at the Oryol State Technical University in 2004.

 

While working on books and the thesis and during numerous debates and discussions a conviction was gradually ripening of the necessity for civil society to actively participate in global processes. Hopes for the opportunities of official state structures and UN diplomatic efforts failed to be confirmed by their actual actions over the past 12 years, which was also emphasized by the UN summit in Johannesburg in 2002.

At the high-level World Conference in Copenhagen on March 6-12, 1995, issues of mankind’s social development were discussed. Among the lines of activity the first place was given to the requirement of  “a wider participation of civil society in developing and fulfilling decisions that determine the functioning and wealth of a society.”

 

Comprehension of an intricate interweaving of the processes of movement of the system “nature-society-man” has led me to a conclusion that the sustainable development conception does not embrace many essential aspects of this system, not to mention that these processes are evolving at different speed and intensity in different regions of the world. This brought me to the idea to raise a question about the necessity of fostering the world development harmonization through working out and practically implementing socially significant planetary projects.

 

It was for these purposes that the autonomous noncommercial organization “Planetary Project” Scientific Center” was created.