This book puts forward a new and original idea - that for the sake of humankind the countries
of the world should share sovereignty in a limited number of areas. Unless this is done we will
not be able to address global threats. These include global warming poverty inequality
terrorism war and conflict the proliferation of nuclear weapons the outsourcing of jobs the
instability of the international financial system the accumulation of power by corporations
the migration of peoples the depletion of natural resources the violation of human rights and
the spread of pandemics. The first part of the book diagnoses what is wrong with the present
system by which the world governs itself. It shows that sadly the United Nations is
ineffective and that some states are failing. In the second part the author asks: what can be
done? He explores the reform of the United Nations. He asks if regional organisations NATO
the European Union the G8 or the G20 could become a governing body at the global level. It is
not realistic to expect any of these things to happen. The third part of the book proposes a
global union modelled on the European Union. Without it we will not be able to address global
challenges.
