World Federalist Papers Article Three: A new type of Nation, for a new kind of world
The world of nation-states we know today is the by-product of centuries of ever greater centralisation. Kingdoms whose subjects had little identity beyond their village or city gained through nationalism a greater sense of connection with peoples far beyond their immediate community. By eliminating the feudal order, nations could rapidly expand their economic might, technological research and political power. However, the rise of nations has led to the worst conflicts in human history, colonialization, racism and fascism. Nationalism is a double-edged sword, both a liberator and an oppressor. Only by radically altering what we think are nations will we achieve the next step of human civilisation and forge a world government.
Nationalism: From Xenophobia to Inclusivity
Nationalism’s greatest curse is xenophobia, the division of our species through borders has caused innumerable conflicts, and the supposed differences in nationalities has justified pseudoscientific racism that still to this day effects the lives of millions of innocent people. To combat this ill we must reform our national identities to be inclusive and welcoming. We must abandon the notion that nationality is defined by racial characteristics or by sect. This will require an active anti-racism ideology being promoted throughout the nations of the world. Where previous acts of exclusion are taught as stains on our collective history. We must abandon our worst instincts, by creating national identities that welcome anyone to arrive and become a citizen.
This will not be easy, around the world regimes use xenophobia to maintain political control. To overcome this, democracy must be made the forefront of national identity. By basing the collective character of society on the freeness of their nation we can more easily elimate socially constructed barriers. This has been most effectively seen in both the nations of the Europe and Australia, both entities once trafficked in the most debased racism in the modern era and yet, after the Second World War both started to become more democratic. The effects were transformative, where once colonial attitudes prevailed, Europe now prides itself on being a community of freedom. This in turn has led to a multicultural, pan-national identity taking root.
In Australia the immigration wave that followed the democratization of their migration laws radically changed their national identity. they grew from a deeply racist, ignorant, poor nation into a thriving multiethnic, inventive, rich one. Now Australians pride themselves on their multicultural society as they have seen the successes only achievable through openness and freedom.
Superstates: Creating one nation out of many.
As we strive towards global governance, we must confront the reality that continent spanning countries will be the future. There lies great potential in a European nation, a united Africa, Americas or a Pacific Union. We must create pan-national entities that can command large swathes of the globe. This is in order to firstly maximize the political power of a global government and secondly to create balance among its member states so that if one superstate goes rouge, the others can properly defend themselves.
A global government will be far more effective if its member states are organised in large continental superstates, it will allow for quicker decision-making processes among the assembly and other government entities; rather than having nearly 200 separate countries we could have six or so superstates. Both international and regional problems can be quickly addressed by large superstates. This would bring the chaos we see in the world today to an end, no longer would there be civil wars prolonged by proxy warfare as superstates would bind nations currently at war with one another into shared unions. Finally, superstates create the inclusive ideology required of a world government, racial nationalism cannot survive when presented with an alternate, tolerant form of identity.
Finally, should a reactionary backlash seize power over a superstate or a powerful member within one, the other superstates of the world could rapidly respond to restore democratic politics. The slow responses to genocides seen in the twentieth century would not be repeated as superstates could swiftly deploy significant military forces to quell mass murdering regimes. It is a fact that superstates are the most effective method to ensure that another world war will never occur again.
Cosmopolitanism shall defeat Nationalism
The creation of a global government will ensure that one-day people will no longer chiefly identity themselves from their national origins. They will claim the union itself as their home. In the same way that generations born after the Second World War identified themselves as Yugoslavians rather than the multiple nationalities that made up that federation. This will be the realization of Cosmopolitanism, and it will change the world forever.
This Cosmopolitanism will be vastly different to the chauvinist, racist nationalism we know today. It will be a belief in the human family as a whole. That we are all a singular species heading towards the same goal. To bring prosperity and democracy to all peoples, everywhere. It will be a form of identity that does not pride itself on tanks and missiles made but on diseases cured, people fed and art created. Borders will no longer divide us as billions move across the globe in search of success and trade. Differences in languages will no longer inspire xenophobia but rather they will be respected and admired. This Cosmopolitanism will reject racism and hatred, as by-products of bygone eras. Cosmopolitanism will bask in human achievement, and all the glories made through love, compassion and tolerance.
In summation, both the nation-state and nationalism have to change in order for the world to move towards a global democratic government. The current world of squabbling nations cannot solve the grave issues facing the world today. There is a better way, one of Cosmopolitanism and human unity. Let us do away with the old and aim for a peaceful revolution that will change the world.