The G8 and "the others"

Since 1975, the heads of State and government of the richest countries have held regular meetings. Their partnership derives from the sharing of common values, both political and economic. The main advantage of having such discussions, for those who take part in them, consists in knowing in advance the movement of the other players, and in coordinating their action consequentially. On the other hand, the main issues of discussion, such as trade, relations with developing countries, energy, and terrorism, have a concrete relevance not only for those who take part in the group. In most cases, the G8 has played a central role in complex international decision-making processes, which affected mainly third States. Good examples of this effect are the G8 action in conflict prevention, its contribution to the HIPC Initiative, and its leading role in the resolution of the conflict in Kosovo. The G8 holds a central position in the current developments of global governance. Following on the output of the annual meetings, the group coordinates and addresses a broader range of issues than that assumed to be entrusted with it (the G8 process); similarly, the action of the group affects a wider range of actors (the G8 system) than that comprising its actual membership. The analysis will move from the study of the G8 decision-making process, focusing, first, on the relationships among the members, secondly, on the connections with other existing international organizations, and, finally, on the dialogue with "third parties". The aim of the paper is to investigate if and how the intervention of the G8 in international policy making may affect actors other than the ones involved in decision making