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WP21 Summary No. 7 (December 16-22, 2002)
Abstract
This is the third Weekly Synthesis on the Architecture of Global Governance. There were a variety of topics discussed and various ideas introduced including the replacement of the U.N by a new body such as a Parliamentary Conference of the Planet. There were again some voices to back the idea that a (democratic) world parliament would be an ideal body to lead grass roots and intergovernmental discussions on what Simultaneous Policies should include. Other topics dealt with the concept of the Savidpra, the rising of the masses, decentralization, the drafting of a world constitution, sustainable development and the European Union as a model for world governance.
This will be the third Weekly Synthesis on the Architecture of Global
Governance which will conclude our formal discussion on this topic before
the one week "coffee break." Late messages still not posted will be
considered in the next monthly synthesis. This week saw a few responses to
previous messages as well as various ideas and proposals for the
articulation of a future system of global governance, including a world
parliament (WP). We will start the summary with a few general ideas and then
move on to more specific proposals.
General ideas on the architecture of world governance
Following up on the discussion about the U.N., one participant suggested
that just as the League of Nations was replaced by the United Nations,
perhaps it would be time to think about replacing the United Nations with
another body better suited to the current configuration of the planet. Such
a body could take the form of a Parliamentary Conference of the Planet made
up of small nation states (under ten million each), sub-national
constituencies including mega-cities.
There were again some voices to back the idea that a (democratic) world
parliament would be an ideal body to lead grass roots and intergovernmental
discussions on what Simultaneous Policies should include. The idea of
Simultaneous policies also gained further support as one of the best means
of hastening the development of a world parliament.
Along the same lines, it was mentioned that a global civil society could be
visualized as * a process of vigilance and information in alert, but
certainly not again as a new architecture of counter-power that would be
structured on the model of the other institutional entities.* In this light,
it would be necessary to start a popular consultation concerning
dispositions and organization of a world parliament.
I will quote here one of the participants who summarized very well how this
forum fits into this whole process : * It is time to realize that our
discursive thoughts create a conceptual game in a same historical dimension
which is common to all knowledge. We are at a general stage of reason; we
share a certain structure of thinking from which no man of our time can
escape! It is this historic raw material that it is necessary for us to use
as absolute counter-power!!!!!!! *
On the subject of * Savidpra *
There were a couple of responses to he idea of the * Savidpra* introduced
earlier this month, these * people with devotion to the entity of
interconnectedness of all being.* While some envisioned these wise people as
* the yeast in the process of motivation towards an inspiring of more and
more actively dissident people, * others seemed more skeptical that one
could actually educate and produce a class of such wise * warrior monks *
with a tradition of cultural opening, pacifist wisdom and spiritual power.
But perhaps Savidpras are not the product of a system but simply something
that starts within each of us and develops enough to lead to a new kind of
culture.
Masses of the world unite!
Throughout this forum, there have been several voices that highlighted the
negative role played by international capitalism. If the * violent
capitalist alliance* as one participant describes, is a source of power that
needs to be crushed, then the organization of a global mass movements -
similar to the peaceful masses that forced the breakdown of the government
of the German Democratic Republic - might force the breakdown of this
system. If such masses could show up in overwhelming numbers and unite under
the same spirit, then the capitalist alliance might be rendered powerless.
More than the idea of having real masses of people marching on the streets
of the world, this might simply entail the * adoption of a spirit, of mental
concepts which are able to focus our thinking and acting on the essentials.
*
Decentralization
There were a couple of messages this week that focused on the idea of
decentralization. One contributor argued against the idea of a traditional
parliamentary system on a global scale. A more attractive idea would be a
decentralized regional self-governance that would send delegates to a WP.
These delegates would not legislate or attempt to elect some sort of world
government but would act as a debating body in charge of evaluating how far
we already agree on common human values. As the entity that hosts these
debates, the WP would in essence establish a feeling of equilibrium
necessary so that we may dispense of the need to have written laws. Its
ideal would be a world with no state, no market , just the non-profit
sector.
On the more specific topic of the economy, one participant suggested that
the current state of things shows the absolute necessity that trade and
finance laws must be secondary and subservient to social and environmental
law and conditions. And that the institutions controlling trade and finance
must also be democratized and held accountable first and foremost to a body
such as the world parliament with a much broader mandate. Furthermore, it is
probable that creating a decentralized economy, without controlling the
institutions of finance and global governance, would not function since it
would not stay decentralized for long. This matter is important enough that
perhaps it should be included as a key or fundamental element in the
architecture of global governance and included in the founding or
constituting document for the WP.
Constitution
The creation of a world parliament might involve the drafting of a
constitution, depending on the direction it takes. If it were to head that
way, then a preliminary discussion would be necessary to make suggestions as
to how to improve currently existing world constitutions. One participant
suggested we look at a world constitution as a dynamic document that can
quickly adapt to human and planetary necessities. This document would define
the structure and procedure by which a WP would operate. This participant
adds that * unless the World Parliament deliberates bills for creating
binding world legislation, it would not be a parliament in the true sense. *
In a very pragmatic manner, this participant encourages those interested in
drafting such a constitution to familiarize themselves with the basics of
parliamentary procedure and professional legislative drafting, thus enabling
a constitutional document to truly reflect the ideas of its creators and
ensure that the constitution is a working document.
Sustainable development and sustainable solidarity
In response to the question of the future of sustainable development, one
participant suggested that we take a good hard look at the manner in which
we envision the concept of development. Development is a term that has been
imposed by the North. In essence, this concept is paternalistic. It is
inherited from the colonial history and no matter how many times it has been
transformed, will always be but a recycled version of the original. Today,
for example, the concept of sustainable development is ecologically viable
and socially acceptable. But the development we talk about is centered on
material things, technological well-being and a limitless consumption.
Instead, we should talk about the development of thought, of humanity, of
cerebral capacities, that is, things that do not have any financial interest
or value. Thus, the time has come to put in question our antiquated vision
of development and start talking about sustainable solidarity
European Union model
Finally, someone argued that might look to the European Union as a model for
global governance. As a standard of governance, the EU has given a place in
history to the peaceful resolution of conflict and has proven incredibly
successful in the manner by which it has solved conflict through effective
communication and good will. Perhaps a world parliament could associate
itself with the EU and help its advance toward a Euro-Asian union and
perhaps even a World Union. But the progress of a political entity such as
the EU should be accompanied by a significant sign that would seal our new
identity. Such a sign would take the form of a common language (such as
Esperanto) identifying us as the human beings with a global will.
Conclusion
This ends our formal discussion on global governance. Novel concepts were
introduced, interesting ideas and proposals were put on the table and many
questions were left unanswered. There is no doubt however that the
discussion took a new turn with a high level of practical solutions offered
to resolve the problem of global governance. The richness and diversity of
this debate now allows us to move on to the next topic - after our monthly
"coffee break." A monthly synthesis of this discussion should be published
in the next few days. It will consider the later messages still to be
published.
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