The Binding of Nations - From European Union to World Union

As the 21st Century lurches from one crisis to another, there has been an explosion of interest in global governance. The Binding of Nations suggests that the time is ripe for a new international organisation, a Global Union based upon a limited sharing of sovereignty. It examines the successes and failures of the European Union as a sovereignty-sharing organisation, and suggests that this unique institution has a critical role to play in the development of a more effective world order. The EU began as a Community of Six sharing sovereignty in the particular area of Coal and Steel, before growing into a Union of twenty-seven members. They quarrel and have their 'red lines', but they share enough sovereignty to act effectively. This book shows that the same principle could be applied to a Global Union and claims that it would prove far more successful than existing international institutions, including the UN. 'This is a lucid, well-written, and courageous book that not only illuminates the difficult process of trying to make nation states co-exist in peace but also offers some very practical suggestions towards achieving that goal.' - Professor Theo D'Haen, Faculty of Arts, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium

Introduction PART I: TOWARDS EUROPEAN UNION The Rise of the Nation-State From Nationalism to Supranationalism Managing Supranationalism PART II: OPTIONS FOR GLOBAL GOVERNANCE The United Nations Other Potential Global Authorities Other Regional Unions PART III: A GLOBAL UNION Current EU thinking A Global Sharing of Sovereignty A Copernican Revolution Notes Bibliography Index