In a recent essay, Philip Bobbit caimed that just as the 20th century began with World War I the shooting of Prince Ferdinand in Sarajevo, the 21st century has begun with the cruel events of September 11. While there have many recent challenges to the nation state – the evolution of human rights, the emergence of transnational corporations, environmental problems that can only be solved through global agencies and action, to mention a few – it is the rise of the virtual nation that represents perhaps the biggest challenge. Al-Qaeda (not to mention global multinational corporatiosn) is the first, but there will be many more. Bobbit's solution is the development of a stronger state, within the bounds of today's nation-states. Only strong states can challenge the virtual outlaws. But does Bobbit's solution go far enough? I don't think so. Rather, the argument I make is that the challenges of globalisation cannot be met by backward steps downward to the nation, but by an evolutionary jump to the world state or at the very least strong global governance. What this world state should or will look like, becomes the crucial question for this century. Will we be beholden to it, ready to sacrifice our lives for it, or are there other ways to organize our identity, are other myths at play?
Relation
Journal of Futures Studies / Vol. 10, No. 2, pp.55-62
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