On the First Branch of Global Governance

Abstract

For those interested in democratizing global governance, the threshold question of whether to pursue a popularly elected global parliament is often one of political feasibility. This article compares the potential achievability of four different strategic approaches to initiating a global parliament: Amendment of the United Nations Charter; Creation by the United Nations General Assembly as a Subsidiary Organ; Civil Society Organized Elections; And Interstate Treaty Process. The article concludes with a short discussion of how a global parliament could contribute to a more peaceful global order.

Keywords: democracy, global governance, global parliament, international law

JEL Classification: K33, N40