"THIS WILL BE THE GREATEST STORY OF THE 21ST CENTURY"

An account of the Intergenerational Symposium "Beyond Conventional Wisdom: New Thinking on Terrorism, War, & World Order" held in downtown San Francisco on October 21, 2001
by Roger Kotila

I had the privilege to be moderator of the October 21st "Intergenerational Symposium" held in San Francisco. The mission ? To go beyond conventional wisdom: to offer "New Thinking on Terrorism, War, and World Order."BEYOND TERRORISM
For this daunting task we enlisted the equivalent of a think tank. From New York, came Gilbert Jonas, author of One Shining Moment - a history (1942-53) of the
Student Federalist movement. High school and college students started it, some later to be elected to Congress. World Federalism, back then, seemed to have found some of the "finest, brightest, and best." They once had Professor Albert Einstein on the radio talking about the need for world government.
Add Dr. Tad Daley from UCLA's Burke Center for International Relations. He insists we explore the "Big Questions." Daley ran for Congress last year. He thinks that Sept. 11th shows that America foreign policy must radically change, and wants the United Nations Charter brought into the 21st Century.
Christopher Robertson, a graduate student from Washington University who is on the W.F.A. Executive Committee, advocates establishing global institutions designed for specific global issues and cites the International Criminal Court as an example of that strategy.
Another of the early
Student Federalists, Fritjof Thygeson, former chair of the Stanford University student chapter 50 years ago, worries about "American Empire." He brought some current students to give some insight on youth. This then, was the Symposium: the old and new, representing three generations.
NATIONALISM: A BACKLASH OF THE TERRORIST ATTACK
The 9-11 terrorist attack caused Americans to be less likely to want to reach out and create something "ambitious and visionary" like a global governing system, cautioned Robertson in his opening remarks. When we feel under attack, we retract into our shell, become nationalistic. "This is the classic logic in the psychology of nationalism seen throughout history. Nationalism is a fire stoked when a group feels under threat."
But Robertson sees opportunity in Bush's war against terrorism. By using a strategy that is "issue-relative," World Federalists can emphasize the need for an International Criminal Court and argue the advantages of its use in dealing with terrorism around the world. He thinks we should think of terrorists as lawbreakers, as criminals, and create a (global) system for global persecution.
TERRORISM AS ACTS AGAINST HUMANITY
Dr. Daley (who was in New York City at the time of the attacks, and volunteering at ground-zero soon afterwards) thinks that the September 11th attacks ought to be seen not as an attack against America, but an attack against humanity. "It would be more appropriate to fly not the American flag, but maybe the United Nations flag to really signify that it was the human community attacked by this barbarism."
He counsels caution in America's response to the
terrorism, reasoning that if we decide we don't have to follow any international rules, other nations may follow suit. "If we disregard the law of nations, then we live in the law of the jungle in which the only limit to violence is the power and ruthlessness of those who apply it."
A VISION FOR THE 21st CENTURY
Daley thinks that World Federalists need to enthusiastically outline the ultimate vision."I am convinced that this will be the greatest story of the 21st Century. Bringing humankind together in a single unified community." We believe that our highest loyalty is our universal loyalty, our global citizenship, our planetary patriotism, our allegiance to humanity."
September 11th means that American foreign policy must change. The new goals, according to Daley, must "win hearts." This objective will require America to offer some kind of rewards for making better choices than terrorism, with full participation in a prosperous and peaceful global civilization. But how? Through "adequate governance at the world level," he explained. He went on to describe what many World Federalists advocate - a legislative branch, an executive branch, and a judicial branch with police, so that there are mechanisms for the enforcement of viable world law.
NEVER FORGOTTEN
Peace is not merely the absence of war but, the presence of justice. "I don't think any of us who heard that 55 years ago ever forgot that sentence," said our featured speaker, Gil Jonas remembering it from Emery Reves in The Anatomy of Peace. Fighting terrorism, says Jonas, will require eradicating the "single most root cause," poverty.
Jonas believes that everything has changed since September 11th. "The nation state system which basically ordered the capitalist world has been over for some time. Globalization is a symptom of that fact. And globalization now calls for solutions beyond national borders -- supranational solutions -- what a lot of people euphemistically call global governance."
Since Sept. 11th, humanity faces 3 or 4 options or alternatives, according to Jonas. A century of chaos and violence, perpetual war in 2 or 3 regions of the world, inertia, which seems to be leading towards an American Empire, or a democratic world federal government. Jonas hopes that America, as the single superpower, will use that power to move the world " to the next plateau" (world government). He also believes that we need the equivalent of the Marshall Plan to help develop the less prosperous regions of our world - a key aspect of eliminating the root causes of terrorism.
TIME TO END BLOOD FEUDS
Another root cause of terrorism is the centuries of fighting between ethnic groups such as between Palestine and Israel.
Presumably a Marshall Plan would help some by dealing with underlying economic pressures. This, however, is not enough to put an end to many violent conflicts in the world. Enforcable world law is necessary as well. If terrorist acts which harm innocent citizens can be considered crimes under the jurisdiction of an International Criminal Court, then the world community would have the authority to arrested anyone on either side of a conflict that resorts to violence.
Jonas, 55 years later, continues to feel that a "representative legislative body" is the "one big issue.” “We have to figure out how to overcome the inadequacies of the UN Security Council and General Assembly."
THINKING "OUTSIDE THE BOX"
Students on the panel made strong points. Joseph Blasher, a high school student from Oregon, felt that World Federalists need to borrow a strategy from mathematics, namely thinking "outside the box" - solving problems in a whole different way. "If you applied that to democracy and government and terrorism, I think it would be a good thing."
New thinking? Commentator, Kalia Young believes we need to question what "democracy" is. "Voting is not democracy. Participating in every sector of life in a democratic way is." She also challenged “corporate personhood” and undemocratic structures like the IMF, World Bank, and WTO.
Whereas Gil Jonas had observed that what was missing 55 years ago for World Federalists was "world community" to attach to global institutions, Jason Blasher noted the difference in modern times from 50 years ago. "Technology allows us to be connected with people all over the world at lightning speed and make those sort of connections -- something you guys never had."
Recent university graduate, Alexandra Cox felt that that after graduation it is important to "stay engaged" with the world and to see oneself as an activist. A message to World Federalists seeking a student movement? Individual relationships are far more important than speaking tours or forums, particularly on a college campus, because such events are so numerous. "In this newly changed world you have to get personal," she explained.
The effect of Sept. 11th was also reflected in pessimism. April Thygeson another high school student, felt that for people her age the idea of cooperation even in some sort of international court is "very far off." "[Terrorism is] an incredibly complicated issue."
IN THE WORLD PUBLIC INTEREST
As moderator, the Symposium stimulated in me the following overview. The Sept. 11th terrorist action made many people realize how important the democratic world federation idea is. Although we probably shouldn't say "I told you so," the fact is that World Federalists have been sounding the warning for over 50 years. Moreover, we are fortunate that the terrorist actions did not include weapons of mass destruction.
It is abundantly clear that our world must work for all, not just Americans. World community. The vision for the 21st Century requires World Federalists to emphasize the world public interest. This leads us to another concept that needs encouragement, world citizenship. Once a sense of world patriotism has been established, world citizens can organize to create a truly democratic and equitable world federation. An enlightened central government can, among other things, lead to more local autonomy and free up local resources for local needs and
development.
Terrorism (particularly the threat of weapons of mass destruction) will never cease without universal inspections, everywhere. No exceptions. These will require a world federation because without a higher authority the nations and corporations will continue what former Student
Federalist Phyllis Thelen calls the "war system".
A final thought: A "democratic" world federation will require true democracy, free of corruption. World Federalists need to help design a means to ensure that money cannot buy elections and disseminate the notion of what is real "democracy", where everyone is a “stakeholder.”
But, ultimately, actions by individuals, groups, organizations, nations, or corporations need to be judged by a 21st Century standard: the world public interest.