Book excerpt: As the world becomes increasingly globalized, the need for governments to continually cooperate to achieve global objectives has become irreversible. This book looks critically at global governance structures in the economic and social field in order to understand what has been done and what can be done better. A close look at the United Nations relationship with development cooperation and the provision of global public goods, provides a thorough understanding of the current status of the world's premier global governance structure. Additionally, analyses of official development assistance and the role of multilateral development banks cast a wider net to demonstrate the growing need for global cooperation and development beyond the borders of the UN. These six chapters have been written at a pivotal moment in global governance initiatives, when the Post-2015 UN Development Agenda is drawing international development into a new era. As this new agenda shifts the future of global development initiatives and increasingly relies on civil society, non-state actors, and regional and local governments to fulfil the sustainable development goals, how will international cooperation and development institutions be changed? And how can we make sure that these initiatives and institutions are innovating for the better?