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World Democracy:
the "Killer App" of World Peace?
By Troy Davis,
President, World Citizen Foundation and
Secretary of the Global Coalition World Democracy 2010
6 December 1999
The
protesters at WTO expressed a real lack of consensus of our society about the global trading system. The bottom line is: we will only resolve this problem if we manage to establish a truly democratic world order: a World Democracy
- even if no one yet knows how to implement it. That is what new economy companies need to promote: a public debate on HOW TO IMPLEMENT such a global democracy. A mechanism has already been established for this: a coalition (Global
Coalition World Democracy 2010) was launched last May in The Hague to promote such a debate. This unique coalition aims to bring together civil society, business and governments to give credibility to this dialogue. People whose
assets depend on the high-tech/internet industry should support this new and timely coalition. Every day news bring water to its mill, and a concerted PR effort can very rapidly start a peaceful but irresistible movement for a
world democracy. Why Internet companies especially? Because their sky-high valuations are dependent on the stock market bubble solidifying rather than bursting. World events could burst that bubble (aided by the record US
account deficit, the rebalancing of foreign currency reserves in favour of the Euro etc.). A World Democracy would help put the desperately needed shock absorbers on the world economy which Internet companies need. Internet
stocks are condemned to grow to survive. The fastest growth will soon have to come from offshore and now is the time to plant its seeds. Not only do Internet entrepreneurs have most to gain from World Democracy (think of the value
of Internet stocks when the web really takes off in the developing world), they also are the ones who can most easily finance it (by donating super-appreciated stock tax-free) and who can most easily promote it (by using the web to
promote World Democracy). For the first time, the Internet would be used to free people as citizens on a massive scale rather than as consumers. Democracy has benefited from the Internet, but 95% of web use is geared to people
in their role as consumers rather than as citizens. As the Internet is the first truly seamless and real-time interactive global medium, e-companies have the biggest incentive to promote the old concept of world citizenship.
Millennium events and psychology, failures to prevent killings in by Kosovo and East Timor, the precedents established by the International Criminal Court, the indictments of Pinochet and Milosevic and countless other factors are
arguments in favour of a world democracy. Even heads of state can be roped in, as Clinton's pro-transparency WTO speech shows, or Jacques Chirac's calls on primetime national French TV (on Bastille Day no less) for an "état de
droit mondial" (i.e. "the world rule of law"). A World Democracy would solve global problems because of 2 major mutually reinforcing factors, creating a virtuous circle:
1. it would give a voice to those now voiceless, and would inject needed democratic procedures in international affairs, thus reducing the risk of terrorism etc., leading to arrangements allowing armaments budgets to be
reduced. This will jumpstart the economy in untold developing countries who can use the money for infrastructure, education, basic health etc. 2. it will increase the pressure for democratization on the national level,
improve the rule of law, spread transparency, increase trust in public institutions, all conditions necessary to improve both the day-to-day functioning of politics and of the economy.
The outcome will be reduced uncertainties and redirected investment which will continue a boom in stock markets everywhere, and as more infrastructure is built (itself providing jobs in developing countries and reducing
poverty), services will grow, the food supply will improve and mortality will drop. Ultimately, a World Democracy will enable world peace and create new wealth, probably double world GDP growth - thus adding $10-15 trillion to
the world economy from now to 2020. World Democracy is the "killer app" of world peace and for the first time in history, it is feasible. What could be more inspiring than to do good, have great fun while doing it, while
insuring your portfolio?
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