1. The concept of "globalization" in its core refers to the fading away of boundaries of space and time. Worldwide this causes a growing mutual connectedness of phenomena and the dispersion of networks of dependency across the globe. Typical of the resulting interconnectedness is that consequences in one area lead to insecurities in other areas. Against this background one can distinguish the following three levels of globalization:
   1. a primary process of globalization, as driven by economic internationalization, innovations in information and communication technology, and the rise of neo-liberal thinking;
   2. governmental, societal and ecological deficits that result as secondary consequences from these processes of primary globalization and that fill people with fear and anxiety;
   3. tertiary resistance and counter-reactions of persons and organizations against these forms of secondary globalization.
   It is important to stress that economic neo-liberalism and its negative consequences and the counter-reactions from society form an integral part of globalization so conceived. Based on these views globalization can be described as a social process where the restraints that the factors space and time impose on economic, political, societal and cultural connections, disappear into the background; where people become more and more aware of this process, especially of its negative consequences; and in which they act accordingly.
   
   
2. Characteristic of the present era of globalization is the growing attention for "sustainability", both in scientific and in societal-political circles. Sustainable development is most commonly defined as "a development that satisfies the needs of present generations, without jeopardizing the possibilities for future generations to satisfy their needs". The so-called "Nationale Verkenning Duurzame Ontwikkeling" (National Review Sustainable Development), recently completed by the Dutch government, is constructed along five themes: population, climate, water, biodiversity, and knowledge. These themes refer to a great variety of subjects: labor participation and social cohesion; energy consumption and mobility; security, inhabitability, harm risks and dehydration; biodiversity at the national and global level; the competitive power of the Dutch knowledge economy and individual choices for a combination of work, care and learning. So sustainability does not exclusively refer to environmental issues, but to the economical, ecological, and socio-cultural quality of societal developments, including their integral interrelatedness. During the past decades environmental policy, both governmental and in the private sector, has been integrated into the wider context of acting in a sustainably and societally accountable way. This understanding of sustainability is not only descriptive, but also normative. The normative aspect consists of the aim to keep the balance between economical, social and ecological quality as a guide for further societal development. This provides the opportunity to put processes of globalization in a normative, developmental perspective, for instance aimed at more self-steering and pro-active behavior of companies, societal organizations and citizens.
   
   
3. The rise of globalization and these related sustainability issues have confronted governments with the limits of a jurisdiction that is based on the sovereignty of geographically defined, national states. Globalization therefore has cleared the way for alternative, new forms of governance ("new governance"). In general, governance refers to "the processes and institutions, both formal and informal, that guide and limit the collective activities of a group". New forms of governance are therefore not restricted to governments and the international organizations they transfer their power to. Governance is as much an activity of private companies and societal organizations. Governance by these non-governmental organizations often takes place in close cooperation with governments, but is also often executed entirely outside the authority or influence of the government. The spectacular increase of attention for issues like corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, ethical investment and codes of conduct, illustrates that business is becoming involved with sustainability issues more and more consciously and systematically. Besides the public sector and the private sector particularly the civil sector is the area where initiatives for new forms of governance can flourish. Both the government and business and civil society are profoundly influenced by the constantly increasing powers of globalization. New forms of governance are mainly the result of a new sort of combined, cooperative action of public, private and civil parties.