Global integration needs more humane system

Global democracy As technology allows us to take advantage of ever-greater global integration, the resulting social changes are amazing, unprecedented, disruptive, and often painful.听

Despite the daily dose of bad news, a longer view reveals enormous advances in virtually every area of human endeavor, such as poverty reduction, technology, health, and education.

On the other hand, our present national and international institutions were never designed to handle environmental devastation, stateless refugees, political instability and a plague of other cross-border conundrums. Whether through war, drought or economic collapse, the most vulnerable already bear the greatest burden of our confused politics.听

We need to balance the benefits and harsh realities of economic integration with a system that鈥檚 more humane. Our own small piece of paradise, however, can鈥檛 survive within a larger hell. It鈥檚 going to require working together in a global democracy.

Surprisingly, populism and isolationism may provide the impetus needed听to create a more effective international order.听There is some evidence of impending change. As the European Union鈥檚 Federica Mogherini said in September 2018, 鈥淭oday, all global powers are rethinking their place in the world鈥�.听From Canada to Australia, from South America to East Asia, from the African Union to ASEAN 鈥� there is a whole world calling for effective multilateralism and for partners to build it.鈥�

The question remains, what changes are needed internationally to create a democratic, sustainable, humane world? A good reference point for that conversation is the visionary plan put forward by the Founder of the Bah谩鈥櫭� Faith, Bah谩鈥檜鈥檒l谩h, articulated here by his great-grandson Shoghi Effendi:

鈥淭he unity of the human race, as envisaged by Baha鈥檜鈥檒lah, implies the establishment of a world commonwealth in which all nations, races, creeds and classes are closely and permanently united, and in which the autonomy of its state members and the personal freedom and initiative of the individuals that compose them are听definitely and completely safeguarded.鈥�

This plan includes a democratically elected world legislature composed of representatives, the best and brightest of听each nation, conversant in international law and the inter-governmental relations and aware of the most pressing needs of the world.Most importantly, it鈥檚 based on a solid foundation of principles shared by the majority of humanity, such as fairness and respect, rather than the power and glory of a relative few individuals and nations.听

Equally worth consideration is the down-to-earth realism of the proposal. Its structure is designed to safely contain the never too distant forces of tyranny. A world executive, backed by an international armed force, would carry out the decisions of the legislature and apply its laws. A judicial arm, or world tribunal, is also needed, as a means of recourse and adjudication 鈥渋n all and any disputes that may arise between the various elements constituting this universal system.鈥澨�

There is no doubt that world leaders recognize the need to stabilize the present international order. As terrifying as change may be, effective global governance, if done well, could be the linchpin solution for many of humanity鈥檚 ills as noted by Shoghi Effendi:

听鈥淭he enormous energy dissipated and wasted on war, whether economic or political, will be consecrated to such ends as will extend the range of human 听 inventions and technical development, to the increase of the productivity of mankind, to the extermination of disease, to the extension of scientific research, to the raising of the standard of physical health 鈥nd to the furtherance of any other agency that can stimulate the intellectual, the moral, and spiritual life of the entire human race.鈥�

Part 2 of the Global Democracy article will appear in the online version of Faith Forum, the Times-91原创 Spiritually Speaking blog, on Wednesday, 6 March

Global democracy Sheila Flood is a member of the Bah谩鈥櫭� community of Saanich and Chair of the Victoria Multifaith Society.听