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World Law |
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History of World Law
Our world history of carries a recurring theme, that of smaller social organizations banding together to form larger, more encompassing social units. Sometimes people look favorably upon this coming together, and sometimes people are aghast. Nevertheless, this banding happens, and also occasionally, it unravels and social units split themselves up. A apparent tendency, however, is that the banding of society moves forward, and people agree to common laws by which they are willing to abide. Although there has been a dream for a world society, only in this past century has there been the development of social institutions which can reasonably be called global, emcompassing the entire planet Earth and affecting all humanity. During this past century, many people have debated the value of institutions which may replace the martial system of the nation states for the ultimate decision-making power of world society. This martial system first emerged institutionally with the League of Nations during the early years of the 20th century, and was reinforced with the establishment of the United Nations Organization in 1945. This international law of the United Nations depends on pure cooperation and coercive military diplomacy, as can be attested by referring to the United Nations Charter itself and to the United Nations' history of conflict resolution during the years since the end of the Second World War.
At the end of that war, many notable leaders urged the establishment of a more democratic, participative institution, in which there would be both individual accountability and true electoral process. Most of these movements were not backed up by thorough planning, and so they were aborted after running into the roadblocks of the Cold War. Nevertheless, a small number of individuals continued to push for the actualization of a world government which would operate under constitutional and electoral procedures with individual accountability.
These movements can be graphically depicted by the use of tree charts toward world government. (To be posted soon.)
Some documents of primary concern to persons learning about world law include the following:
The Constitution for the Federation of Earth
Honorary Sponsors of the Provisional World Parliament