THE UNITING OF NATIONS: AN ESSAY ON GLOBAL GOVERNANCE - Softcover

This book puts forward a new and original idea that, for the sake of humanity, the countries of the world should pool particular elements of their national sovereignty and should exercise this pool of sovereignty as a collectivity.
Unless this is done, the authors contend, it will be very difficult to address the many global threats that face humanity. These threats include war and conflict, terrorism, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the outsourcing of jobs, the instability of the international financial system, the accumulation of power by corporations, the migration of peoples, global warming, poverty and inequality, the depletion of natural resources, the violation of human rights and the spread of pandemics.
The first part of the book diagnoses what is wrong with the present system by which the world governs itself. It shows that the United Nations is dysfunctional and a number of states have failed. The authors demonstrate that both of these problems stem from the same cause: countries are pursuing power in a manner that is not regulated.
The second part of the book asks: what can be done? It explores the United Nations, regional organisations, NATO, the European Union, the United States and the G7/8. Could any of these be reformed or adapted into governing bodies, effective at the global level? It concludes that it is not realistic to expect this to happen. Instead the world needs to create a new organisation.
The third part proposes a global union of democracies and outlines its functions, principles and design. It shows how, if the world were to avail itself of such an organisation, then it could be in a better position to address the many threats that currently confront it."

The Authors: John McClintock is a British citizen. He has studied economics and has worked in developing countries. He is currently an official of the European Commission.
Xavier Guigue is a French citizen. He has studied human rights and has worked in the field of conflict resolution. He is currently the Director of ITECO, a non-governmental organisation that conducts training in the fields of development education and international solidarity.