A Cosmopolitan Case against World Government

Overview:

This article was written by Ilya Somin at Cato Institute.

• Key insights provided include the assertion that cosmopolitan support for globalization can coexist with opposition to a global government and that world government could potentially lead to substantial negative outcomes including authoritarianism.

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Key Quotes:

• "World government would be dangerous because people harmed by its policies could not 'vote with their feet' against it."
• “We don’t need world government to solve the world’s problems.”

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What They Discuss:

• The debate over world government versus global governance, typically conflicted between cosmopolitan supporters and nationalist opponents.
• World government could undermine diversity and beneficial competition among nation-states, as illustrated by the proposed global minimum tax by the OECD.
• Political ignorance would be exacerbated under a global government, making it harder for voters to be well-informed about global policies.
• A world government could make it impossible for individuals to migrate away from oppressive regimes, eliminating opportunities for “foot voting.”
• Historical and hypothetical risks of world government turning into totalitarian regimes, potentially with catastrophic results.

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What They Recommend:

• Address global problems through cooperation between a few major powers rather than establishing a world government.
• Utilize voluntary agreements and unilateral actions to solve international issues.
• Promote migration rights and reduce barriers to immigration without the global government framework.
• Stay cautious of empowering institutions of global governance that may pave the way to a world state.

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Key Takeaways:

• Even proponents of globalization can reasonably oppose the concept of world government due to the potential risks it poses.
• Risks include loss of migration opportunities, stifling diversity and competition, exacerbating political ignorance, and potential for totalitarianism.
• Many global challenges can be addressed effectively through international cooperation without centralized world governance.
• Safeguarding against the dangers of world government requires critical analysis and careful measures to ensure local autonomy and effective global collaboration.

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Disclaimer: 

This is a brief overview of the article by Ilya Somin at Cato Institute. For complete insights, we recommend reading the full article.