The Politics of World Federation (Session 6)

The postwar plans to end war through law were beaten by the Cold War, not by their ideas. The final session on The Politics of World Federation asked when such plans might return. It read the author’s conclusion and the appendix of world federalist declarations.

Discussion Highlights

Joseph Preston Baratta gave his own conclusions. The postwar federalists were defeated by the Cold War, not by weakness in their ideas. A federal union of peoples will return as a question whenever the system of sovereign states fails again. The European Union is the most practical model so far. The declarations in the appendix are the movement’s lasting achievement. Their principle is that there can be no peace without justice, no justice without law and no law without government.

Each member then offered a conclusion. Many were discouraged by the history yet encouraged by young people. Several stressed building a sense of world citizenship. Others named coming crises as likely triggers. Some saw the International Criminal Court and the crime of ecocide as political openings. Bob Flax said CGS would watch for such openings while still working toward the longer vision.

The World Citizen Book Club meets online on the second Saturday of each month and is open to anyone, whether you have read the book or not. See what the club is reading next.