Writings Comments $10 million

How to make World Peace for
10 Million Dollars?
The time has come to establish a World Democracy!

We have designed the Killer App for world peace and prosperity: a process to create a global dialogue on how best to create a world democracy, which is the condition for the continued spread of the rule of law and the basic framework for free markets. The idea of a global democracy is simple but compelling. If we accept democracy as the basic organizing principle of society in San Jose, the county, the state and the US, why not the next level? Leaders from Clinton to Tony Blair and Kofi Annan (not to mention unions and environmentalists) talk about the need to put a human face on globalization (see also today's oped page of International Herald Tribune). But few have yet spoken about the logical conclusion: the establishment of a democracy at the global level. Yet, informal conversation with dozens of leaders in different fields, including the Vice-Premier of Canada or PM of Namibia and former CEOs, show that the concept resonates and strikes a nerve. To start a process of resonance with the global public is the goal of the Global Coalition World Democracy 2010. While few might disagree with the basic goal, the big question is: how to do it? We believe that the solution will only be found in a planet-wide dialogue which should be pretty easy to start since globalization and its impact on politics and economics is at the top of the agenda.

When even establishment papers like the Wall Street Journal write editorials lambasting national sovereignty (30.12.99), and The Economist talks about a potential World Tax Organization (!), is it not time to think about a real World Democracy, with direct world elections and democratic representation at the global level? Wouldn't a World Congress be much more respected than the impotent UN or the vilified IMF and WTO? Wouldn't it be better for all multi-lateral organizations to eventually be accountable to a World Parliament representing all the world's peoples directly? Wouldn't such a development reduce world tensions and provide the best ways to make decisions about the future of the planet, or resolve potential conflicts such as water wars? Wouldn't a world democratic body be better placed to deal with peace and security and global commons (environment, space, electro-magnetic spectrum etc.) than the current hodge-podge of overlapping inefficient international organizations? Wouldn't it have been more humane (and cheaper) to resolve the Kosovo conflict in a body following common rules and respected because of its inherent legitimacy?

This killer app is absolutely necessary for the Internet industry and the high-tech/communication industries which increasingly drive the world's economy to continue to thrive. The growth rate of the Internet is decreasing, as Forbes ASAP recently showed. Internet companies are condemned to grow or be eaten. Forward-looking Internet companies know that their market is not just the the US or even Europe. It is the entire world. Unfortunately, much of the world's population does not benefit from the basic infrastructure necessary to use the Internet and high-tech toys. What is this infrastructure? It is good government, democracy, the rule of law etc. Our project provides the only realistic way to accelerate the establishment of the global rule of law, which is not only good for companies of course, but also answers popular concern about globalization (think Seattle and upcoming IMF protests).

Basically, we need 10 million dollars to make world peace, save millions of lives and add several trillion dollars to global GDP. This might well be the best ROI of any philanthropic investment anyone could make. We just need a few visionaries or risk-takers who will wager a few millions for global peace and stability. Maybe one or more few forward-looking global Internet entrepreneurs like Jim Clark or Jerry Yang or daring venture capitalist like John Doerr will take the risk, like Carnegie did at the turn of the century when he gave $10 million to make world peace. Unfortunately, the time was against him. Today, the tide has turned and a globalized world needs a global democracy to be sustainable.

We want to use all available modern tools communication to educate, to inform, to open the minds of, to broaden the dialogue among the people of the world, to generate enthusiasm, so as to create a climate, a rich soil in which the ideas of global democracy can grow. Foster an environment which allows frank and robust discussions of options and scenarios, we want to enrich the seeds of democracy to flourish at global level.

The dividends of World Democracy will not be just economic and large enough to reduce the gap between rich and poor everywhere, it will also reinvigorate democracy, and the faith of voters and youth in politics in a world increasingly perceived as disconnected, and where even the rich and powerful (e.g. Davos) diagnose the same ills we do, but wring their hands in despair.

We need just a few millions to make World Democracy. We now have a good shot at really changing the world AND safeguarding the investment in new economy, expanding it faster, saving millions of lives and creating several trillions new wealth which will allow us to reduce gap between rich and poor.

This is a huge endeavour but for the first time in history, we have a nexus of factors which make it possible. We just need a few visionaries or risk-rakers who will wager a fraction millions on global peace and stability (compare to Carnegie $10 million at turn of century!). High-tech entrepreneurs wishing to make their mark and innovate in philanthropy have an unique opportunity to both change the world and create the basic conditions for their continued long-term success.

There is no greater idea than an idea whose time has come.
Victor Hugo

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