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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1968)
Nationalism lias served its purpose. Formed on the basis of cooperation among all rather than force among the few, it has unified the world more than any other single force. The modern state, which has only been in existence for approximately ten centuries, destroyed feudalism and led the way for man’s present so cial and technological progress. The state was formed as a stronger, more ef fective and more centralized power. It united the large and the small and the strong and the weak. The modern state is not part of the natural state of man. The state gained man’s allegiance by giving him security. On the same basis, a world government can be formed. It can unite the large and the small and the strong and the weak nations of the world. The state evolved slowly. Italy and Germany did not become centralized governments until the 1800’s. A world government will also evolve slowly. The individual makes a pact with the govern ment. He gives up a portion of his freedom for the benefits the government provides. The gov ernments will give up a portion of their sovereignty when the world organization can offer them enough benefits to more than offset their loss of sovereignty. It is commonly recognized that the world faces a population explosion. Estimates predict a world imputation of seven billion by the end of this century. With an increasing population and less land to farm is the added problem of hunger and famine. Asia is already feeling what all nations, including the U.S., may face in the future. The atom bomb murderd the city of Hiroshima and its people. Nuclear weapons twice as deadly now exist. Instead of cities, nations can be mur dered. The nuclear bomb and the means to get it will not long be just in the hands of a few Great Powers. Israel is developing nuclear weap ons. The Peoples' Republic of China is developing nuclear weapons. A large part of the world has never had a television set. A large part of the world has never had a car. A large part of the world has not had adequate education to cope with today's highly technical world. A large part of the world does not have an adequate standard of living. Population explosion, the prospect of nuclear anihilation and poverty face the world. Uncheck ed, they can destroy. The nations, working in Anti-malaria team in Togo dividually, have not succeeded in solving these problems. The U.S. has tried through its Alliance for Progress. The Soviet Union has tried to help through its programs in Africa. Hunger, poverty and growing populations still exist. The U.S. and the Soviet Union have held conferences, and signed treaties. The nuclear threat still exists. The individual states have proved to the world that they cannot alleviate these problems. There fore, it is up to another force, such as the UN, to try and solve these problems. The individual has given up some of his per sonal freedom and rights in exchange for the benefits the state can offer. The state will have to give up some of its sovereignty to avoid the chaos of famine, booming populations, mass pov • erty and mass fear of the bomb. * To exist, every nation must develop the loyal ty of its members. To exist, every nation must show its members that they need the state. The nations of Europe and North America have suc ceeded in doing this. The nations of South Amer ica have tried to do this. The majority of the emerging nations in Africa and Asia are only beginning to do this. No nation has attempted to'develop a loyalty from its members to a world organization. No nation has convinced its mem bers—or itself—of the need of a world organiza tion. Until the nations of the world, as governments, recognize the need for a strong international government, its peoples will not. Like the build ing of nationalism, the understanding of the need for an international organization will take a long time to develop. However, when the stales recognize the need for an organization, they can reach the people through education. By orienting national, domes tic and foreign policy to the idea of a world government, people can learn about and accept the concept of a world government. The biggest problem facing the UN or any world organization is to gain its members’ sup port so that it can be effective. There are many things in the world which could bring the nations together. However, history shows that nations tend to come together only in great crisis. The history of the League and the UN bears this out. They were formed only after the peace had been destroyed. Perhaps there is hope this time because the problems of the world are so different. The na tions have also realized to an extent that they are not completely self-sufficient. The Common Market is an example of a regional grouping which is replacing the idea of self-sufficiency in some areas. If this trend can continue, maybe there is hope. Italian doctor displays malaria-causing mosquito
