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Considering Global Democracy: An Introduction To The Symposium 'Envisioning A More Democratic Global System', Andrew L. Strauss

School of Law Faculty Publications

This introduction to the symposium "Envisioning a More Democratic Global System," held at Widener University School of Law in the spring of 2006, provides a conceptual overview of symposium papers published in Volume 13:2 of the Widener Law Review. The papers fall into two groups. As a reference point for understanding how the democratization of the international system can occur, the first group examines the process of democratization at the national level. The second group of papers forward and assess specific proposals for democratizing the global system with a particular emphasis on the proposal for a global parliament.

Papers discussed …

Symposium: Envisioning A More Democratic Global System: On The First Branch Of Global Governance, Andrew L. Strauss

School of Law Faculty Publications

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.