Governing our planet as citizens

TLDR 

In his essay “Why Not A World Parliament To Govern The Planet Earth?”, P. Soma Palan argues that nation-states and international institutions, such as the UN, are structurally incapable of solving global crises, including war, climate change, and inequality. He proposes a World Parliament, a directly elected democratic institution that represents global citizens and legislates and acts in the common interest of humanity. The idea is rooted in moral universalism and democratic legitimacy, calling on ordinary people to think beyond national borders and act as global citizens, thereby developing a democratic global governance system that ensures we collectively govern and co-create our planet. 

The central thrust of Palan’s argument is that the nation-state system is outdated and inadequate. It was built for a fragmented, competitive world, not one that is interdependent and faces existential risks. The author identifies major global challenges: nuclear weapons, climate catastrophe, pandemics, global inequality, and wars as problems no single nation can solve. Worse still, nations today often hinder collective action due to nationalistic interests, sovereignty claims, and power politics.

In this leadership vacuum, international institutions like the United Nations are not enough. The UN General Assembly is like a diplomatic forum, not a democratic legislature. The Security Council prioritizes power over people, wielding vetoes that paralyze decision-making. The lack of a democratically elected global body means that billions of people have no real say in the governance of global affairs.

Palan proposes a World Parliament, a body directly elected by global citizens, with legislative power over cross-border issues. This parliament would transcend nationalities, religions, and economic classes, reflecting the will of humanity rather than the interests of state elites. Drawing inspiration from thinkers like Einstein and Russell, he revives the world federalist tradition, which views global democracy not as a utopian fantasy, but as a moral necessity.

Importantly, Palan shifts the debate from elite-centric reforms to civic agency. He argues that ordinary people must see themselves as global citizens and demand democratic representation. The governance of Earth must not remain a closed affair among diplomats, generals, or corporations. It must become a public democratic project.

Reflections and Implications

Palan’s essay is both visionary and urgently practical. It asks us to reimagine democracy beyond borders and take seriously the idea that we, the humans of the Earth, should govern it together. As the climate breaks down, wars proliferate, and technology outpaces regulation, the call for a World Parliament becomes not just desirable but critical and necessary. Citizens can engage through initiatives, global petitions, and support for transnational democratic initiatives like the UN Parliamentary Assembly campaign. In a time of global crisis, only global democracy can secure global justice, peace, and freedoms for all humanity. 
 
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