Billions Must Love: A Pathway to World Federalism

A continuation of "Humanity First: A Vision for Global Unity, Peace, and Progress"

The current global order is failing us. It is a system that prioritizes profit over people, division over unity, and short-term gains over long-term flourishing. In my previous article, I outlined a vision for a world that places humanity first—one free from the scourge of war, committed to environmental stewardship, and united in its pursuit of collective progress. This manifesto builds upon that foundation, offering a practical roadmap for how world federalism might be achieved.

But before we can discuss implementation, we must confront an uncomfortable truth: the tribalism and partisanship that have divided humanity for generations remain the greatest obstacles to our collective advancement. We have far more in common than we allow ourselves to believe.

Beyond the Political Spectrum

I do not wish to rally behind the flag of any nation or political allegiance. Such tribalism has fractured societies and pushed populations toward extremes. The political spectrum itself—that arbitrary classification system designed to sort human beings into neat ideological boxes—has become part of the problem. People are far more complex than “left” or “right.”

Consider the inconsistencies: in the United States, support for Israel is associated with the political right, while advocacy for a two-state solution is linked to the left. Yet what inherent connection exists between these positions and broader ideological frameworks? None. These associations are arbitrary and shift over time. Margaret Thatcher was a pioneer of UK-EU integration; decades later, Conservative leaders like Boris Johnson championed Brexit. The labels remain constant while their meanings transform beyond recognition.

As the philosopher John Stuart Mill observed, “He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that.” We must transcend these artificial divisions. A person should not be automatically categorized as “Group A” or “Group B” but recognized as a free individual whose views may align with various perspectives—or none at all.

Cultivating an Informed Citizenry

The foundation of any functioning democracy—and by extension, any future world federation—is an educated and engaged populace. Political literacy must be cultivated from a young age, enabling individuals to develop their own informed views rather than simply inheriting their guardians’ beliefs. Critical thinking, not partisan indoctrination, should be the goal.

This educational imperative should be paired with the widespread introduction of citizens’ assemblies—deliberative bodies that give ordinary people a genuine voice in governance. When citizens are empowered to participate meaningfully in political processes, disenfranchisement gives way to engagement, and apathy transforms into action.

Electoral reform is equally essential. Fair and proportional voting systems that allow voters access to parties representing their actual beliefs are desperately needed in nations like the United States and the United Kingdom, where two-party systems fail to represent the diversity of public opinion. When citizens are forced to vote for the party they dislike least rather than the one they genuinely support, democracy itself is diminished.

A Vision of Federated Governance

When these domestic transformations are achieved—when citizens are educated, engaged, and fairly represented—the possibility of a more united world emerges. I envision a planet free from the tribalism of “West versus East,” governed not by any single ideology but through collaboration among representatives of all peoples.

This federated structure must be built upon the principle of subsidiarity: local communities retaining autonomy over local issues, national governments maintaining power over national concerns, and a world government addressing only those challenges that transcend borders—climate change, nuclear disarmament, pandemic response, and the protection of universal human rights.

As Albert Einstein envisioned, “If the nations of the world are wise, they will create a world police force, a world court, and a world legislative body. Only then will the world be safe for humanity.” Such institutions would provide mechanisms to prevent wars, adjudicate international disputes, and legislate on matters that no single nation can address alone.

Reforming Global Institutions

The current United Nations, while valuable, is fundamentally flawed. The Security Council’s veto power grants disproportionate influence to a handful of nations whose permanent membership was determined by the geopolitical realities of 1945, not the world of today. This structural inequity undermines the organization’s legitimacy and effectiveness.

A reformed UN—or a new institution built upon its foundations—must be equitable to all nations, with representation proportional to population. Such a body should empower not only national governments but also local communities to participate in global governance, creating the foundation for a genuine global citizen identity.

Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us that “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” The same principle applies to nations. Our collective challenges demand collective solutions.

The Long Road Ahead

I harbor no illusions about the difficulty of this endeavor. The world I describe is a distant vision, not an imminent reality. Our current systems are adaptations and evolutions of previously unfair structures. Democracy has been an enormous improvement over the monarchies and dictatorships that preceded it—but we have not yet reached the summit.

A truly fair system—one in which every citizen feels attached to their local community and believes that they and their neighbors have a voice on the national and global stage—remains an aspiration. Only when this is achieved can we transcend our tribalistic impulses and elevate all of humanity toward a cooperative, bipartisan future where the needs of ordinary people take precedence over the interests of the powerful.

Conclusion: A Call to Unity

The path forward requires placing humanity first and foremost. It demands citizens who are proud members of their local communities, their nations, and the wider world simultaneously—not choosing between these identities but embracing all of them.

As Mikhail Gorbachev wisely observed, “Peace is not unity in similarity but unity in diversity, in the comparison and conciliation of differences.” Our goal is not to erase what makes us unique but to recognize what makes us the same: our shared humanity, our common home, and our intertwined fate.

Billions of us must learn to love—not in spite of our differences, but through them. This is the foundation upon which a federated world can be built. The question is not whether such a future is possible, but whether we possess the wisdom and courage to pursue it.

The answer, I believe, lies within each of us. Humanity first.