top of page

Two Pivotal Essays by Altiero Spinelli Now Accessible to a Global Audience


The Young World Federalists are delighted to present the first English translations of two essential essays by Altiero Spinelli, added to the 1944 edition of the Manifesto of Ventotene: The United States of Europe and the Various Political Tendencies and Marxist Politics and Federalist Politics. These texts have long been cornerstones of European federalist thought, yet until now they have remained largely confined to Italian-speaking readers. Thanks to the committed work of Luca Alfieri and Gideon Ong, supported by fellow members of the Young World Federalists, both essays are finally available online for all who wish to explore them.


Although produced by non-professional translators, these new versions have been crafted with care, rigour and repeated review. The translators made selective use of contemporary language tools, but every passage was revised and cross-checked by other federalists to ensure fidelity to Spinelli’s voice. The result is a clear and coherent rendering of two demanding texts, enriched by annotations that guide readers through the political and historical references that shaped Spinelli’s writing. Those encountering these debates for the first time will find the notes particularly helpful, while those already familiar with federalist history will appreciate the precision they add.


Making these essays accessible today is more than an academic exercise. As the translators observe, the present moment is marked by renewed pressures on democratic institutions, widening geopolitical fractures and the spread of political movements that reject cooperation in favour of national primacy. Spinelli grappled with parallel forces in his own time, and his work continues to offer guidance for those seeking a constructive alternative. His central insight, that only a federal order can reliably restrain the destructive tendencies of unbridled sovereignty, remains vital not only for Europe but for the wider international community.


The United States of Europe and the Various Political Tendencies (1942) argues that Europe's fundamental crisis stems from the international anarchy of sovereign nation-states, which inevitably generates total war and militarism. He systematically critiques three contemporary political orientations as inadequate solutions: racism (Nazism) would impose barbaric domination; national democracy, despite good intentions, would recreate the cycle of conflict because sovereign states inherently pursue particular interests over collective welfare and lack any superior authority to enforce peace; and communism, though claiming internationalism, remains trapped in national frameworks that would multiply economic tensions and serve militaristic collectivism rather than worker emancipation. All three orientations fail because they cannot escape the "fetish" of national sovereignty or address the central problem of international order.

In Marxist Politics and Federalist Politics (1942 – 1943), Spinelli examines the shortcomings of doctrines that treat social justice as a struggle between classes or as a matter of state control. His analysis of sectionalism, in which competing groups capture state power and bend it to their own advantage, sheds light on the broader global challenge. The same dynamic unfolds internationally when states pursue narrow advantage at the expense of others, generating world scale inequalities and recurrent crises. Spinelli’s argument that only a federal framework can curb these distortions and allow societies to direct economic forces towards the common good aligns closely with the aims of world federalism.



Both essays illustrate that federalism is not confined to Europe. It is a general political method for overcoming destructive forms of sovereignty and creating institutions that reflect shared human interests. As world federalists, we recognise that the forces Spinelli analysed do not stop at continental borders. Climate breakdown, technological disruption, nuclear proliferation and global inequality all reveal the limits of a system built on competing nation-states. Spinelli’s reflections help us understand why attempts at international cooperation often fall short, and why a genuine federation at the global level is needed to move beyond those limits.


Making these writings accessible in English opens the door to a wider conversation about how federalist ideas can guide the evolution of international institutions. The translators express their hope that these unofficial editions will encourage future professional translations. For now, their work offers students, activists and citizens across the world an opportunity to rediscover a thinker whose insights extend far beyond his immediate context.

 
 
bottom of page