Out of Anarchy: a multi-cultural look at the Federalist ideal

During the Cold War years, world federalists were largely viewed as an overly idealistic and dreamy bunch -- even though their proposals for the creation of a world federal system sounded quite attractive versus the very real prospects for global destruction in a U.S.-Soviet nuclear exchange.

Yet although federalism has proved workable in a variety of settings, from Switzerland to the United States of America, the hard realities of an ideologically split, bipolar world seemed to preclude any reasonable hope that all nations could ever be welded into a united federal system. As compelling an idea as a United States of the World might have been, the gulf between the East and West just seemed too great.

Since the end of the cold war, however, and with the rise in anarchy that is unfortunately coming to be associated with some newly independent states, the call for something more powerful than the present-day United Nations Organization is increasingly heard. In its most vague form, that call rings with the phrase "global governance" -- a sort of toe-in-the-water slogan that simply articulates the need for more international structure.

People in the World Federalist Movement, however, have thought about this problem for a long time, and amidst the growing clamor for something to be done, they have produced an important new book, one which is sure to be valuable as the debate over how to unite our fractured world broadens.

Published at the end of 1993 by the Movement and its U.S. affiliate, the World Federalist Association, Uniting the Peoples and the Nations -- Readings in World Federalism offers a wide-ranging and multi-faceted view of what federalism is and how it might be applied on a global level.

Compiled by long-time world federalist Barbara Walker, the book succeeds on many levels. It serves as a cogent and scholarly review of how the concept of world unity has evolved from ancient times up to the present day.

On another level, it exists as an important collection of short readings on the topic of federalism by well-known thinkers. Thus, as might be expected, excerpts range from the writings of Immanuel Kant to Albert Einstein, from James Madison to Dag Hammarskjöld.

Perhaps the book's most significant contribution, however, is in the degree to which it publishes the thoughts of lesser-known and/or emerging thinkers from around the world, offering a look at how Eastern and Southern thinkers have dealt with the idea.

As such, the book convincingly shows that federalism is a nearly universal idea, capable of appealing to people of many cultures and backgrounds.

Federalism, of course, is the division of governmental functions between legislatures at the provincial or sub-regional levels and a national or more-widely encompassing "federal" legislature that oversees the whole. According to Kenneth C. Wheare, whose writings are among those quoted in the Uniting the Peoples and Nations, this division implies not "the relationship of superior to subordinates," but rather "the relationship of co-ordinate partners in the governmental process."

Other elements of federalism, according to Wheare and others quoted in the book, include a reliance on democracy for selecting the legislatures in a federal system, the underlying use of a constitution or compact to delineate the spheres of authority for each unit, and respect for the rights and responsibilities of the individual.

The 364-page paperback is divided into three sections. The first discusses the general principles of federalism, striving to define what it is and to examine its origins. The second section covers theories and proposals for global governance and world government throughout history. The third section focuses on the United Nations experience -- and looks at some specific ideas for the New World Order.

In each section, the range and scope of the readings is impressive. The passages selected for the first section, as might be expected, include key excerpts from Federalist Papers, the collection of originally anonymous writings by Alexander Hamilton, John Madison and others who were instrumental in helping to shape the newly independent United States of America in the late 1700s.

However, the book also includes readings that show widespread appeal of the federalist idea, providing descriptions of the tribal federations used by the Iroquois people in North America and excerpts from the writings of post-colonial African leaders like Kwame Nkrumah and Julius K. Nyerere.

The second section, likewise, contains passages not only from the best-known proponents of world peace and unity throughout history -- such as Dante Alighieri, William Penn and Immanuel Kant -- but also from those whose contributions are just now beginning to be acknowledged.

Nearly six pages are devoted to the work of Chinese scholar K'ang Yu-wei (1858-1927), who Ms. Walker notes "may be been the first person to set out such a comprehensive world government plan."

As well, the book includes five pages on the life and writings of Bahá'u'lláh (1817-1892). Ms. Walker notes that "as the founder and central figure of the Bahá'í Faith...his "practical and ethical religious teachings have gained followers from all over the world."

The readings that follow provide a concise overview of Bahá'u'lláh's dramatic call, made more than 100 years ago, for the rulers of the world to recognize the essential oneness of humanity and to band together to create the institutions of an united world that could enforce the collective security and pave the way for a new era of peace and prosperity for all.

The third and final section leaves out many of the standard documents about the United Nations, such as the U.N. Charter itself or Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1942 "Declaration of United Nations," in favor of readings that are both less commonly available and more focused in their criticism -- albeit mostly constructive criticism -- of the United Nations system.

The readings in this section, for example, delve into matters that are highly practical, and which have proven to be quite sticky in a world ruled by anarchic nation states. Several excerpts deal with the problems and potential of peacekeeping, for example.

Passages from the book 40 Years a Third World Soldier at the U.N. by Carlos Romulo raise trenchant questions about the limitations of peacekeeping in a world where all the parties must agree to an operation before it can be undertaken. "Can you imagine a policeman being required to secure the assent of the parties in a street fight before moving to break up the conflict? That is the United Nations' present predicament."

In summary, the book offers an easily accessible primer on the basic concepts and advantages of federalism while at the same time providing an overview of the degree to which some of history's finest minds have embraced the idea. In the coming debate over how to unite our world, it will be a valuable resource.


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