Toward a Minimalist World Federation
How do we mitigate the possibility that a world federation might somehow become hijacked from within by anti-democratic forces and turned into a tyrannical superstate? An approach called the “Federal Union of Democratic Nations” addresses that issue squarely. This new concept would make the world body somewhat less centralized and less powerful than is normally envisioned, yet still contain essential world federalist provisions in its constitution. According to the proposal developed by Professor James Yunker of the Western Illinois University, the key restraints on a minimalist world federalist state that would prevent the danger of tyranny should include the following: (1) member nations would retain the right to maintain their own military forces, and (2) members could withdraw (secede) at their own discretion from the union. The latter provision, says Yunker, would especially ensure that the world state would not turn into an instrument of oppression, because the Federal Union’s military power would be offset by the military forces retained by nonmember states, not to mention the forces of member states. Other provisions in this timely proposal include a unicameral world legislature with only 200 representatives and a global Marshall plan to address inequality. Go to the latter half of this intriguing essay by Yunker to see his approach spelled out.
NOTE: The Democratic World Federalists are committed to expressing a wide range of views on the vision of creating a peaceful, just, and sustainable world through a democratic World Federation. The views expressed in this article represents that commitment and not necessarily our official position.
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