Preview of the UN Summit of the Future

The disappointment comes closer. What comes after?

Preparations for the ‘UN Summit often the Future’, which is to take place on 22 and 23 September in New York, are in the final spurt. You don't need to be a clairvoyant to tell you that none of these wishes will come true. There may be some promises that are then celebrated as a great success, but experience has shown that they are not realised or come to nothing. I have already expressed this several times in my articles.

What will it be like after the summit, when everyone involved has realised the results? Will the NGOs continue to run nicely in the hamster wheel of the UN system? Or will some finally come to the realisation that things can't go on like this? Is it time for a new approach, time for a new world organisation alongside the United Nations? A world organisation that actually represents humanity and not the nations?

It wouldn't have to be many at first, but if some of the disappointed NGOs took the initiative to start building the United Mankind Organisation, it would be a start. Such a project is of course huge, but it can start small. The NGOs do not have to give up their previous activities within the framework of the UN. One does not exclude the other. But they would then have a second track that would stabilise their work considerably. Thanks to their experience in many coalitions, they also have the necessary connections. And who other than civil society would be better suited to represent the interests of humanity?

The disappointment comes closer - by Richard Maxheim (substack.com)

Four pathways to world federation

It is not only since yesterday that the global scene of world citizens and world federalists has been characterised by differing ideas about the right path that should lead to the political unification of mankind in a federal world union. There are four recognisable paths that must wind their way through the difficult terrain of an uncertain future in order to get closer to the goal.

Illustration Etienne Bouwie

Unforeseeable lateral connections and shortcuts may also arise. In a group of Young World Federalists on Reddit, the question was posed as to which of the paths users would favour. The answers show some deficits in the assessment of the real world situation. In this article, I want to write my personal view of the four paths and point out a fifth path that is not shown in the illustration. However, it could unite the winding paths into a broad, easy road.

Read article:

Four pathways to world federation - by Richard Maxheim (substack.com)

Pioneers of United Mankind

Plaque on the Pioneer space probes 10 and 11

As I have already stated several times, a second world organisation should be sought alongside the United Nations: the United Mankind Organisation. For this, we need a United Mankind initiative, which should come from suitable NGOs.

Part of this initiative could consist of launching a global movement that I would call the "Pioneers of United Mankind". In principle, this would correspond to Arnold Toynbee's recommendation (see previous post). Such a movement could become the strongest driving force for the political unification of mankind in a democratic, federal world union.

Just as for the two interstellar space probes Pioneer 10 and 11, launched in 1972 and 1973, this is a long way off. In contrast to these space probes, however, we have a clear goal: the unity of mankind.

See my detailed article:
Pioneers of United Mankind - by Richard Maxheim (substack.com)

Arnold Toynbee and the United Mankind

The well-known British cultural historian and philosopher of history Arnold Toynbee (1889-1975) made indirect references to a possible United Mankind Organisation in his writings. For example, in his book "Mankind an Mother Earth":

"The present independent regional states are incapable of maintaining peace, protecting the biosphere from human pollution, or conserving their irreplaceable resources. This political anarchy can no longer be allowed to continue in an ecumene that has long since become one in the technical and economic fields. What has been needed for five thousand years - and has proved feasible in technology for a hundred years - is a world-wide political organisation consisting of individual cells on the scale of neolithic village communities - so small and manageable that each member knows the other and yet is a citizen of the world state."

See my article on Substack:
Arnold Toynbee and the unity of mankind