World Federalist Papers Article Five: World Federalism must smash modern Imperialism
Dr. Sun Yat-sen said at his fourth lecture on nationalism in February 1924 that “Cosmopolitanism grows out of nationalism. If we want to extend Cosmopolitanism, we must first establish strongly our own nationalism.” This is absolutely true, so long as people are denied their nationhood; we can never build a Democratic World Federation. Our project must be anti-imperialist, firstly because all attempts to unite the world through Empire have failed and secondly because denying nationality and identity will eventually lead to the destruction of the occupying force. Look at the fall of the British Empire and its inability, over centuries to secure Northern Ireland from resistance fighters. Only through the realization of everyone’s national sovereignty will we be able to craft a World Federation.
In the world today, many peoples are denied their national and economic autonomy. Throughout Africa, South Asia and South America states are forced to either accept Western economic control such as France’s CFA Franc Zone in Africa or submit to the insanely steep debts of Chinese lending. There are also entire peoples who are denied their homeland, such as the Palestinians and the Kurds. We as World Federalists must fight against these injustices if we ever hope to unite the world.
Once again Dr. Sun Yat-sen found the answer to what the nations of the world should do, when examining the course of action China ought to take. As outlined in his sixth lecture on nationalism “What really is our duty to the world? The road which the Great Powers are traveling to-day means the destruction of other states; if China, when she becomes strong, wants to crush other countries, copy the Powers’ imperialism, and go their road, we will just be following in their tracks. Let us first of all decide on our policy. Only if we “rescue the weak and lift up the fallen” will we be carrying out the divine obligation of our nation.”
The Democracies and Democratic movements of the world must first and foremost combat the exploitation of weaker countries by the global superpowers. We cannot allow powerful corporations and governments to violate the laws, customs, interests, stability and economic self-determination of Developing Countries in search of profits. We must build up a democratic bloc that is dedicated to the self-sustainability and self-determination of less powerful states. Once they see the benefits of mutual cooperation with said bloc, they will be more likely to engage in international political organizations, which leads us closer to World Federalism. To achieve this, we must collectively demand the end of financial exploitation, commit to protesting and boycotting malign actors. This will require us to work with many different political ideologies, across many different countries. However, if we hold true to the Three Universal Watchwords, Liberty, Unity and Justice we can achieve anything.
Secondly, we must support those people struggling for their nationhood, currently there are many cultures attempting to gain their independence. Where there is popular support for national liberation, we must lend our support. As only once everyone has their own nation, may we embark on World Federalism.
Finally, we must empower the United Nations, international organizations and international law so that the rights of all nations are respected and protected. For far too long the superpowers have regularly abused the laws and customs of the international community in favor of their militaristic adventures. Best exemplified by the second invasion of Iraq by the United States and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We must also give the international community the tools they need to hold transnational corporations to account. No longer can we tolerate corporations violating basic human rights of people who are citizens of the Developing World or finding loopholes to ensure they pay no taxes.
Its time we got to work, we have a world to win