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WP21 Forum Summary I (October, 15 - November, 17, 2002). Debate on Values, Principles and Purpose
Arnaud BLIN, WP21 team.
Thursday, November 28, 2002 4:39 PM
ººº Abstract: The discussion was initiated with a debate on values,
principles and purpose. In general terms, most everyone agreed that there is
a necessity for today's world to look for global solutions to urgent
problems such as war, inequality, poverty, and environmental degradation.
There were definitely two main currents in the discussion. The first one was
adamant that a good amount of time be devoted to coming to an agreement on
values before any move be made to construct a World Parliament. The second
group seemed more impatient to move on to practical matters and looked at
the whole issue of values as something which, in essence, has already been
resolved through multiple efforts and initiatives at global governance. In
conclusion : the World Parliament as a tree of palaver. ººº
The forum for a World Parliament for the 21st Century will take place for
the next several months. The discussion was initiated with a debate on
values, principles and purpose. In essence, the question revolved around the
values a world parliament might be founded upon, around which principles and
for what purpose.
We need for global solutions to urgent problems: war, inequality, poverty...
In general terms, most everyone agreed that there is a necessity for today's
world to look for global solutions to urgent problems such as war,
inequality, poverty, and environmental degradation. Is global governance a
possible path to finding solutions to these and other problems? This will be
the central question of this forum. From the outset, everyone seemed to
agree on the fact that the current system of state-based governance, whether
it takes the form of individual state action, multilateral initiative or
collective activity, is wanting in many aspects and will not be capable, in
its current state, of resolving these problems and others that might occur
in the future.
A majority of participants also agreed on the fact that, should a World
Parliament be launched, it should be founded upon and promote a certain
number of values. Several participants actually listed some of the values
one could consider in this light. One contributor suggested, for instance,
that one take a close look at the following basic values: ethics,
solidarity, liberty, transparency, and democracy. Another proposed a
seven-value structure: respect and solidarity, transparency, coherence,
protection, a real representativeness, flexibility and adaptability, and
earth citizenship (or Ci-terrestrial-ship).
There seemed to be general agreement that an important value revolves around
the idea that people should be able to meet their basic human needs such as
for food, shelter, decent livelihood, economic well-being, etc. And that one
of the principles upon which a world parliament would be based would be
ensuring that these needs are met (and an area of disagreement concerned how
these needs should in fact be met.)
One person suggests that a basic minimum fee should be provided to everyone,
while another said that we should move beyond the various political
ideologies of the past century. Another difference of opinion was in how
many values should be recognized. Should we try to be inclusive or list only
a few? One suggestion was to list primary and secondary values. Then we
would need to determine how to decide which are primary and which secondary.
While finding a set of universal values is fundamental, one must also
address the following question: how can one ensure that global governance,
or a world parliament, operates according to the values that are agreed on?
As a corollary, one can go further and ask: which tools or instruments could
best represent and define these values and principles (and which not) and
why? Finally, one must be able to answer the following: how can we ensure
that our global institutions begin to operate according to such principles?
Certainly, we did not try to answer these questions during this initial
phase of the discussion other than through suggesting specific programs and
proposals to address the global challenges that currently undercut our basic
values and principles, and these basic issues will serve as a guiding thread
to the whole discussion.
From deep and integral to pragmatic and minimal values
It seemed to many contributors that the key to the successful design for a
World Parliament would be a good balance between the ideals sought after and
the pragmatic ways to achieve them. A significant part of the discussion
comprised a critique of the current state of governance. Viewed from this
angle, a World Parliament should try to address the problems that the
current system of governance has failed to tackle. This approach has the
advantage of comparing itself to what already exists, yet it also runs the
risk of trying to achieve the impossible. One contributor in particular
expressed his concerns that the discussion might ultimately fall into a type
of romantic idealism that will lead to an impasse. To be viable, he
suggests, a WP must gain respect, legitimacy, and power, for its power "will
come from fundamental rights, from the realization that it actually truly
represents better than any other body in the world the will of the citizens
of the world." The principles on which a WP are founded, he said, must be
limited in number and address the concrete workings and processes of the WP.
Still on the topic of legitimacy, someone corroborated this by saying that
every one should be included in the World Parliament while roundtables could
be created at every level of government and decision-making to allow all
people to participate fully.
Someone also suggested a strong effort be made to respect each and every one
's values, culture and history adding that a WP should organize around the
development of "communities of ideas" based upon Rights to qualities of
life, which could include:
"Food for all", "Right to lodgement for all", "Egalitarian access to
Justice", "Protection of the minorities", "Right to the health", "Equality
of educational opportunities", "Respect of the childhood", "Right to
information"
Going beyond of the obsolete current forms of governance and parliament
Many contributors approved of the idea of self-governance, where people look
after their own needs at all different levels. But, if one wants to put this
idea into practice, one must also look beyond the forms of governance that
we inherited from 18th century models of parliament. A World Parliament for
the 21st century must take into consideration new elements that were
non-existent in the past, including a high volume of participation and the
respect for diversity. In terms of sheer numbers, technology might be a way
to resolve certain issues. E-Democracy, for instance, might be right around
the corner.
One participant saw the WP as taking on the role of *guardian* and
*protector* of the weakest, in particular of the children. As its task, such
an institution would "put an end to all war, to the craziness of weapons, to
all industrial, sexual or domestic exploitation of humans and other
species." It would also allow for the restoration of the ecosystems.
Multiculturalism and Western-based values
The question of multiculturalism goes to the root of the issue of values,
for what are, in essence, universal values? There was definitely a strong
current in the discussion that was concerned about the possible dominance of
Western-based values. Some participants suggested we look closely at
traditional value systems. The issues of culture and values were especially
strong in the area of language. One of the basic questions we must ask
ourselves early on is in what language or languages a World Parliament will
function? Several contributors are convinced that a World Parliament should
operate in a neutral language. Esperanto was mentioned several times. Other
ideas included the revival of a dead language.
This question leads us to the crux of the problem. There were two main
currents in the discussion. Representatives of this first current were
adamant that a good amount of time be devoted to coming to an agreement on
values before any move be made to construct a World Parliament. This group
tended to be in favor of initiating an intercultural dialogue and looked to
a World Parliament as a body that should address a multitude of problems,
including economic and social inequities and North-South inequalities. The
second group seemed more impatient to move on to practical matters and
looked at the whole issue of values as something which, in essence, has
already been resolved through multiple efforts and initiatives at global
governance. This group suggested we look at some of the work already
accomplished in this domain and build upon it. The second group tended to
favor a "minimal" system of values, while the first group tended to want to
develop a more elaborate system.
Following is an example of what one of the contributors defined as a set of
"minimal" values that could be adopted by a World Parliament (these
principles are based on the Campaign for World Democracy):
1) Ultimate political sovereignty resides in individuals
2) Collective sovereignty of the people must be expressed through direct or
representative democracy
3) Rule of law
4) Solving problems at the most practical local level (Subsidiary principle)
5) Institutional and procedural transparency to create and maintain trust
6) Use of peaceful means to build such institutions
7) Non-Discrimination (art.2 of Uni. Dec. of Human Rights)
Traditionally, political philosophers tend to look at progress in governance
in two manners: through the reform of human nature or through systemic
ameliorations. Which is the purpose of a World Parliament? From this first
month of the discussion, one can surmise that it would tend to be the
latter.
Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the most profound. I will end this summary
with a message from one of our participants. I think it grasps in a few
words the essence of what many feel that this is all about:
"In Africa, we have known the tree of palaver (l'arbre à palabre). In
effect, it is under this tree that all differences were resolved in the
presence of all or of their representatives. I dream that the World
Parliament become a reproduction for modern times of our trees of palaver."
WP21 Alliance Forum on a World Parliament for the 21st Century
E-mail : world-parl@forums.alliance21.org
Fax 1 717 264 5036
Information, inscriptions, désinscriptions: germa@alliance21.org
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