Around the world, a growing crisis of legitimacy characterises the relationship between citizens and the institutions that affect their lives. In both north and south, citizens speak of mounting disillusionment with government, based on concerns about corruption, lack of responsiveness to the needs of the poor and the absence of a sense of connection with elected representatives and bureaucrats (Commonwealth Foundation 1999; Narayan et al. 2000). Traditional forms of expertise and representation are being questioned (Leach et al., this volume). The rights and responsibilities of corporations and other global actors are being challenged, as global inequalities persist and deepen...