Abolishing War (Session 2)

The World Citizen Book Club concluded its two-session series on Abolishing War by Dr. Winston Langley. This second session deepened the discussion of Langley’s proposals for transforming the United Nations into an institution capable of preventing armed conflict and ensuring global peace.

About the Book

Abolishing War argues that the abolition of war is achievable through the creation of a radically reformed United Nations with effective global governance capabilities. Langley contends that the sovereign nation-state system is the primary source of international violence and human rights abuse, and that meaningful progress on peace requires systemic institutional change. The book links the abolition of war to broader imperatives including environmental protection, conservation of natural resources, and the universal enforcement of human rights.

About the Author

Winston Langley is Professor Emeritus of Political Science and International Relations and Senior Fellow at the McCormack Graduate School for Policy and Global Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He served as Provost of the university from 2008 to 2017. A world federalist, Langley has spent decades researching models of global order with an emphasis on human rights. His additional works include Women’s Rights in the United States (Gustavus Myers Outstanding Book Award winner), War Between U.S. and China, and While the US Sleeps.

Discussion Highlights

The second session examined the practical pathways Langley outlines for reforming the United Nations and building the institutional architecture needed to abolish war. Participants discussed the relationship between disarmament, environmental stewardship, and human rights enforcement as interconnected elements of a peaceful world order, and explored what steps individuals and organizations could take to advance these reforms.