Regionalism can provide an expression of a common sense of identity and purpose combined with the creation and implementation of institutions that can more effectively shape collective action within a geographical region…without the US or UN!
The world can be divided into several ‘regions’ that can effectively pool resources and provide essential services that international organizations provide through UN agencies such as WHO, FAO, WIPO, IMF…
Regionalism can be defined as an international region with a limited number of states linked by a geographical relationship and by a degree of mutual interdependence and (international) regionalism.The
European example is especially valid in this light, as the European Union as a political body grew out of more than 40 years of economic integration within Europe. Today, Europe boasts a directly elected central legislative body, a common currency, a central bank, a ‘superior’ court and of course free flow of goods, services, and labor! I would venture to say, that one day NATO will be replaced by a European Defense Organization with assistance from the United States.
Central staffs in all these international organizations could be ‘emptied’ out and passed into regional entities within the ‘political’ framework of these new political groupings…providing direct supervision and accountability. What great way to ‘reengineer’ the United Nations?!
The world Soccer Federation (FIFA) is a good operating model. Soccer (or Futbol as it is known outside the US) is the world’s most popular sport. Over the years it has had to develop an effective international organization that has resulted in the very successful development of the sport. Regional tournaments and national sport development projects are successfully undertaken with a minimal central operating staff (in Switzerland) through regional ‘confederations’.
Beyond the European Union, the African Union, China, India, and Russia, I can imagine new political groupings for Latin America, Arabia, Central Asia (or EurAsia as it also known), South East Asia, … Let nations develop their own ‘Unions or Associations or Confederations’ but clearly there are opportunities for additional ‘Unions’.
Arab Union:On one level, Al Qaeda does in fact represent successful regionalism … an expression of a common identity (through religion) for a ‘purpose’. It is fascinating to note the various nationalities of its leadership: Egyptian, Saudi Arabian, Jordanian, Moroccans… basically almost every Sunni Islamic nation united in a common purpose.
A better way to promote democracy in the Arab world, for example, would be the reinforcement of organizations such as the Arab League to create similar Arabian institutions…such as ‘directly’ elected legislative body, a central bank, a common currency etc.
In fact, dare I say, even the creation of an Arab Football (or Soccer) Federation (removing all Arab nations from the African Federation or the Asian Federation) would serve an important role in creating a new basis for a common identity and purpose …and provide an alternative to vision to Al Qaeda’s vision.
In Iraq, no one believes George Bush when he says he is trying to promote liberty. He has no credibility, and every one knows it was an invasion for access to oil…nothing else. If Iraq’s main export was bananas or tomatoes, no one would have supported a war bill in the hundreds of billions of dollars.
The war in Iraq will only be won, when there is a viable alternative to Al Qaeda’s vision. Iraq is a war of ideas. It is not just what idea is being proposed but also whose idea is being proposed. The ‘regional’ solution is an idea that can be non-American. And in fact it can seriously assist America by replacing American’s soldiers an Arab Defense Force.
Latin American Union:The seeds for such a Union have already been planted and many countries are cooperating in unprecedented ways. It is a simple matter of leadership, and commitment …before this becomes a reality.
Central Asian Union:A ring of nations around the Caspian Sea, all the way down to the Persian Gulf, including Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The problem of course is that there are many forces that will impede or retard such a global transformation. On the one side, certain vulnerable nations such as Israel will not permit the formation of an Arab Union, if only out of its own security fears. International organizations and American dominance could also be threatened.
But I submit that American dominance is not sustainable. The United States can not afford it, nor will Americans support more adventures like Somalia or Iraq. America must face up to its loss of leadership and credibility. Nor is it possible to accept the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of international organizations for ever. It just doesn’t make sense to fly someone out of the United States or Switzerland at a high cost, high labor rate, and limited regional understanding to do a job that can be better served from a regional service center…whether its for processing a development loan, or handling Malaria eradication, or to police a regional conflict. It’s ridiculous.
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