World government researchers discuss "the practical politics of global integration"

World Government Research Network hosts workshop in Brisbane / World Parliament one of the topics

Last week, around twenty researchers and practitioners met for two days at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, to discuss "the practical politics of global integration" at a first event hosted by the World Government Research Network that was established last year.

According to the convenors of the network, Luis Cabrera of Griffith University and James Thompson of Hiram College in Ohio, "over the past two decades, some of the world's leading International Relations theorists, normative political theorists, international law scholars, economists and sociologists have turned their attention to the concept of world government. They have assessed the prospects for full global integration, and in many cases identified reasons to support it."

A main purpose of the workshop in Brisbane was to address "the challenges which stand in the way of the kinds of suprastate integration these researchers analyze or advocate, and the means by which global security, democracy, and justice could plausibly be advanced from present global circumstances." 

One of the seven sessions of the event was devoted to "the project of a world parliament and its role in global political integration." Speaking as a practitioner, the co-founder of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly, Andreas Bummel, said that "the creation of a global parliamentary body is the single most important element in any viable strategy to steer the process of global state formation. There are two reasons for this," he added. "First, a global parliament constitutes an indispensable feature of the institutional architecture of full global political integration. Second, a parliamentary body may also be the key force and cultural innovation that is required to advance successive political integration at the global scale."

Other presentations revolved mainly around the desirability, extent, and realization of a world state from an academic perspective. Among other things there was a vivid discussion on the definition and main characteristics of a state in general and a world state in particular. It was also debated whether the European integration process and the development of the European Parliament actually constitute good examples.

Presenters included, among others, Alexander Wendt of The Ohio State University, Daniel Deudney of Johns Hopkins University, Chris Hamer of the University of New South Wales, Joseph Preston Barattta of Worcester State University, Joel Trachtman of Tufts University, Shirley Scott of the University of New South Wales, Mark Beeson of The University of Western Australia, and Richard Shapcott of the University of Queensland.

According to Luis Cabrera, "it was a great first event for the network. It brought together some of the people who have been central to the resurgence in world government theorizing over the past two decades, as well as some key practitioners, world federalists and skeptics. We had a very productive dialogue, and we look forward to posting the presentations on the network's website, as well as getting some of the more theoretically oriented pieces out as a symposium in a peer-reviewed journal. Overall, I think this event was a powerful momentum builder for the network."

Website of the World Government Research Network

Democratization of the United Nations discussed at an event in Lyon

On the occasion of the UN's 70th anniversary last year, a public event was held at the Political Sciences Institute in Lyon, France, on 11 May 2016 to discuss perspectives for making the world organization more effective and more democratic. Around 70 participants attended the event that was organized by the Young Europeans and the Union of European Federalists Rhône-Alpes.  

As a first speaker, Jean-Francis Billion, president of the UEF Rhône-Alpes and a council member of the World Federalist Movement presented the history of the federalist movements in the world and in France. He explained that the European federalists fought for the election of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, a European currency and a real European constitution. The world federalists on the other hand promote a UN Parliamentary Assembly, UN reforms and regional integration across the world as a key towards effective and credible global governance.

Subsequently, Sylvain Schirmann, university professor and director of the Political Sciences Institute of Strasbourg, spoke about the history of the League of Nations as important precursor of the UN. The League of Nations was weak because its membership was not universal. In particular, the United States did not join and the Soviet Union did so only very late. Other countries in Latin-America as well as Japan were reluctant, too.

Finally, Pierre-Yves Maurice, vice-president of the UEF Rhône-Alpes and a former UN employee, elaborated on the strengths and weaknesses of the UN. Among the major problems that he mentioned was the veto right of the five permanent members of the Security Council, ineffective coordination between the myriads of UN institutions, and the lack of democratic representation of the world's citizens. According to Mr. Maurice, "the most important perspective is the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly taking in account the positive experience gained from the Inter-Parliamentary Union."

In the discussion, Mr. Billion asked: "Who is utopian? The person who thinks that a divided planet will regulate itself or someone who envisions global democracy?"

Valter Mutt

We need to strengthen the peace dialogue in the world, the conversation between individuals on the one hand and between peoples on the other. A UN parliament is an indispensable platform to make such a dialogue possible beyond national mindsets. Therefore I am happy that the Swedish Green Party supports the establishment a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly.

Green party of Sweden supports a UN Parliamentary Assembly

National congress adopts resolution, calls on government to take action

At its national congress in the city of Karlstad from May 13-15, the Swedish Green Party Miljöpartiet de gröna adopted a motion calling "for a democratic United Nations." The motion was accepted by an overwhelming majority of the congress delegates. It expresses the party's support of the international campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly and  for the proposal to "establish and gradually develop a democratic UN Parliament."

According to the document, a first step towards a future UN Parliament could be to establish a UN Parliamentary Assembly that only has advisory powers at the beginning. Within the limitations of the UN Charter, this could be done through a decision of the UN General Assembly. An approval by the UN Security Council would not be required. Furthermore, the text of the motion calls on the Swedish government to start a coalition of progressive UN member states in order to promote the idea within the UN system.

In the national elections of 2014, the Green party received 6.89% of the votes, resulting in 25 of the 349 seats in the Riksdagen. The Swedish government is formed by a coalition between the Social Democratic Party and the Greens.

The foreign policy spokesperson of the Green Party, Valter Mutt, was present at the congress. In a statement for the UNPA Campaign he underlined the potential role of a UN Parliament as a peacemaker:

We need to strengthen the peace dialogue in the world, the conversation between individuals on the one hand and between peoples on the other. A UN parliament is an indispensable platform to make such a dialogue possible beyond national mindsets. Therefore I am happy that the Swedish Green Party supports the establishment a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly.

The UNPA Campaign's international appeal has been signed also by the two leaders of the Swedish Green Party, Gustav Fridolin and Isabella Lövin. Since 2014, Lövin has been serving as Minister for International Development Cooperation in the Swedish government. In a statement from July 2013, when Lövin was a Member of the European Parliament and putting a special focus on a more sustainable fishing policy, she said:

We must not be silent when the Oceans are dying because short-sighted national interests make effective global rules impossible. Through a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly a platform could be established that finally makes the voice of humanity heard in support of the global interest and sustainable life on Earth.

Growing Green support around the world

Through its supportive motion, the Swedish Greens join a growing global green movement for the establishment of a United Nations Parliament. The Global Greens, the umbrella organization for Green Parties around the world, have continuously expressed support for the proposal, for example at their latest congress in Dhakar 2012. In addition, the German Green Party Bündnis 90/Die Grünen is supporting the UNPA proposal. Only a few weeks ago, this was reaffirmed by a statement of its chairman Cem Özdemir.

Le Parlement panafricain appelle l'Union africaine à soutenir la création d'une Assemblée parlementaire des Nations-Unies

L'assemblée plénière du parlement continental adopte une résolution, et souhaite que Union africaine s'engage.

Hier, le Parlement panafricain a appelé l'Union africaine et les gouvernements africains à soutenir la création d'une Assemblée parlementaire des Nations Unies, ou APNU.

Dans une résolution adoptée par consensus par l'assemblée plénière, l'organe parlementaire de l'Union africaine indique qu'une «APNU est nécessaire pour renforcer la participation démocratique et la représentation des citoyens du monde à l'ONU» et que la nouvelle assemblée "contribuerait à renforcer le contrôle démocratique sur les opérations des Nations-Unies, en particulier en Afrique ".

Notant sa "préoccupation que la création d'une APNU ne soit pas inscrite à l'ordre du jour officiel de la réforme de l'ONU" le document appelle "l'Union africaine et ses États membres à soutenir la création d'une APNU et à prendre les mesures nécessaires pour faire avancer cet objectif à l'ONU, par le déclenchement et l'initialisation d'un processus intergouvernemental préparatoire en vue d'établir une APNU ".

Le président du Parlement panafricain, Nkodo Dang du Cameroun, a déclaré la semaine dernière que "plus de 70 ans après la création de l'Organisation des Nations Unies, l'interdépendance mondiale nous a tous fait citoyens du monde. Il est grand temps que« Nous, les peuples », comme débute la Charte des Nations-Unies, aient plus à dire dans les affaires mondiales. Pour cela, une APNU doit être créée".

La résolution d'hier a été introduite par Ivone Soares du Mozambique. "La résolution montre l'aspiration du Parlement panafricain et des citoyens africains qu'elle représente à un ordre mondial qui doit devenir plus démocratique. Il est temps pour les gouvernements de prêter attention à cette question. Ils doivent ouvrir des négociations sérieuses sur la mise en place d'un organe parlementaire à l'ONU et les gouvernements africains pourrait en prendre la tête ", a-t-elle commenté.

Le coordinateur global de la campagne internationale pour une APNU, Andreas Bummel, a déclaré que la résolution constituait un important pas en avant. "Nous espérons que les gouvernements africains joueront un rôle de premier plan et le soutien du Parlement panafricain est crucial pour atteindre cet objectif. La prochaine étape que nous envisageons dans les efforts internationaux est la création d'un groupe informel de gouvernements, à l'esprit ouvert, à l'ONU à New York, qui se penche sur la proposition d'une APNU et sur la meilleure manière de procéder", a-t-il déclaré.

Dans une tribune publiée dans le journal sud-africain Mail & Guardian la semaine dernière, les parlementaires sud-africains Stevens Mokgalapa et Heinrich Volmink ont fait valoir que "les Africains, peut-être plus que quiconque, savent avec quelle urgence nous avons besoin d'outils démocratiques plus performants et de plus de gouvernance mondiale" et que la création d'une APNU "représenterait un tournant dans la réforme démocratique de l'ONU."

Selon un récent sondage de la BBC International  dans 18 pays, "plus de la moitié des personnes interrogées (56%) dans les économies émergentes se considéraient avant tout comme des citoyens du monde plutôt que des citoyens nationaux."

En 2007, le Parlement panafricain a adopté une première résolution en faveur d'une APNU.

En savoir plus

PAP Resolution of May 2016 (en anglais)
PAP Resolution of October 2007 (en anglais)

South African MPs: A more democratic UN isn't just about Security Council reform

In an opinion piece published here in the South African newspaper Mail & Guardian, two South African members of parliament with the Democratic Alliance - Stevens Mokgalapa and Heinrich Volmink - argue that making the UN more democratic cannot stop at expanding the Security Council, a subject that is high on the agenda of many governments.

Instead, they write that "a watershed moment in the democratic reform of the UN" would be the "establishment of a global parliamentary assembly."

In their opinion, South Africa could play a "pivotal role" in the project. As they point out, it wouldn't be the first time that South Africa supports the establishment of an international parliamentary body. When the African Union was created in 2001, it was South Africa that embraced the idea that a Pan-African Parliament should be part of the new continental organization.

The most prominent supporter of a world parliament from South Africa was Nelson Mandela.

Read the full article here

Roger Nkodo Dang

More than 70 years after the establishment of the United Nations, global inter­dependence has made us all world citizens. It is long overdue that “We, the Peoples”, as the UN Charter begins, have more say in global affairs. For this purpose, a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly needs to be established. I am happy to confirm my personal support of the international campaign that works towards this goal.

President of the Pan-African Parliament: African governments should back a UN Parliamentary Assembly

Meeting on the occasion of the parliament’s session in Midrand, South Africa

The president of the Pan-African Parliament, Nkodo Dang from Cameroon, voiced support for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, in short UNPA, on the occasion of a meeting in Midrand, South Africa, during the current ordinary session of the continental parliamentary body.

At the meeting, PAP parliamentarian Ivone Soares from Mocambique presented Mr. Dang with the international appeal for a UNPA which is supported by numerous politicians, former UN officials, distinguished scholars, cultural innovators, and representatives of civil society organizations from all over the world.

In the conversation, it was recalled that in 2007, the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) adopted a resolution that called for the creation of a UNPA. "In this resolution, PAP recommended the establishment of a consultative UNPA within the UN system according to Article 22 of the Charter which enables the UN General Assembly to establish subsidiary bodies. It is our hope that African governments eventually will back this proposal," Mr. Dang said in a subsequent letter addressed to the UNPA campaign.

"More than 70 years after the establishment of the United Nations, global interdependence has made us all world citizens. It is long overdue that 'We, the Peoples,' as the UN Charter begins, have more say in global affairs. For this purpose, a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) needs to be established. I am happy to confirm my personal support of the international campaign that works towards this goal," PAP’s president wrote.

The Pan African Parliament was established as an organ the African Union to ensure the participation of African citizens in the development and economic integration of the continent. It was inaugurated in 2004. The agreed aim is to evolve it into a parliamentary institution with full legislative powers whose members are elected across the continent by universal adult suffrage.

"PAP was established in order to bring Africa’s 1.1 billion citizens closer to their continental organization, the African Union. Without this element, stronger regional integration and cooperation is no longer possible. In the same way, the United Nations must evolve and open its doors towards parliamentary participation," Mr. Dang stated.

Sigmar Gabriel

Unfortunately, in many cases the authority of the United Nations is insufficient. That's why it needs to be a common aspiration to change this and to make the United Nations more effective, transparent, and democratic through a reform of its structures and decision-making procedures. This is also the starting point of the Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly which shows important perspectives on the path towards the creation of a world parliament and which I am delighted to support since 2007.

Cem Özdemir

The United Nations has been the global and crucial voice for peace, human rights, justice and environmental protection since its founding. At the same time, the UN faces limitations when member state governments do not represent the interests of their citizens. This is why the creation of the UN Parliamentary Assembly is so relevant for us – to give voice to every citizen, woman and man, all over the world; to create legitimacy by true representation, and to enhance political responsibility of the states’ leaders.