What You Need to Know
About the Most Important Issue
In the World Today

Bruce A. Roth

Chapter 23

A Step in the Right Direction

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
—Confucius

It would be the pinnacle of naïveté to expect all the nations of the world to convene in order to form a representative governing body. However, there are many ways in which the seeds of a global democracy could be planted. For example:

  • The most obvious approach would be to begin with the base of an established organization, the UN. The UN Charter would need to be amended by removing features that fetter the UN from effectively governing its Member States. The UN would have to be more representative of its Member States. The veto power enjoyed by permanent members of the Security Council needs to be abolished. Provisions that enable the UN to enact global law need to be added. The ICJ and ICC need to be endowed with jurisdiction, and its decisions must have higher authority than those of national courts. The UN would need the ability to enforce laws.
  • One approach would be for a few like-minded nations with shared values to start a process of multinational regional governance and set an example for the world. Eventually, other nations might wish to participate for reasons similar to those that led to their participation in the EU—be they economic, social, political, or simply not to be left behind. This seems to be the path that nations of the world are currently taking, as evidenced by the formations of the EU, AU, ASEAN and SACN.
  • Perhaps the best way to begin the process on a global scale is with a very small yet significant first step. The world’s nations could retain their sovereignty with one small exception: a law that proactively eliminates all WMDs. The law prohibiting WMDs would pierce the veil of national sovereignty only slightly. This is what I mean when I use the term “limited” global democracy. In order for the law to be effective, there must be mandatory jurisdiction and a standing law enforcement agency, with the goals of preventing violations and early enforcement. This approach would seem to have the greatest chance of success because the goal of eliminating WMDs should appeal to every nation while being least intrusive.
 
 

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