Religions and World Federation

Stimulated by a desire to reduce war and political tensions through global governance, some religious groups have advocated the creation of a world federation of nations. Noting how democratic federal governments have advanced peace and justice within countries, many religious people have advocated the creation of a democratic federal government at the global level in addition to national, regional, and local governments.

They have concluded that global problems are not being solved under the existing United Nations (UN) organization, a confederation of national governments based on the principle of unlimited national sovereignty. The UN has often been ineffective because of these reasons: The General Assembly can pass only nonbinding resolutions based on the nondemocratic system of one nation one vote, each of the five nations that are permanent members of the Security Council has a veto, there is no adequate system of enforcement for international treaties, and the organization has a limited budget based on dues that are not always paid by national governments. One solution that is advocated by the supporters of a world federation is that the UN be transformed into a democratic world federation of nations—based on the principle of subsidiarity—that would create, enforce, and adjudicate world laws as well as having the power and authority to arrest and incarcerate individuals who violate them.

Under an effective world federation, war as a means of settling disputes between and within countries would be outlawed, and verifiable disarmament of the weapons of war could take place. In contrast to the present war system, thousands of [Page 1069]innocent civilians would not be bombed or suffer under international sanctions because of the decisions of their leaders. Conflicts would be settled, and global problems could be solved through a nonviolent democratic process. A world constitution would make explicit the powers and limitations of the world federation; the rights, powers, and limitations of national governments; and the rights and responsibilities of all citizens of the world.

Roman Catholic bishops at the Second Vatican Council called for outlawing war by international consent and creating a universal public authority that would safeguard security, justice, and rights. In their encyclicals, Pope John XXIII and Pope Benedict XVI have stated that there is an urgent need for a true world political authority that would be regulated by law, observe the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity, promote human development, manage globalization, and establish the common good.

According to the teachings of Baha'u'llah and the Baha'i Universal House of Justice, acceptance of the oneness of humanity is a prerequisite for establishing a world federation. According to Baha'is, every national government will need to give up every claim to make war and should only maintain armaments for purposes of maintaining internal order. Baha'is and many others also believe that understanding between all people and the facilitation of a world federal democracy would be enhanced by the universal use of a common auxiliary language in addition to the national languages.

Many individuals from religions that lack a central teaching authority have also promoted the goal of a world federation. For example, many liberal Protestant Christians and many Unitarian Universalists are world federalists. Hindus such as Swami Satprakashananda, Buddhists such as Nikkyo Niwano, and many individuals from other major religions have emphasized the need for a global system of enforceable world laws.

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