United Federation of the West?

Joined Jun 2013
5 Posts | 0+
UK
Should the western world formed into one united federation, with one government, military, currency, etc? I believe it should, the West has a shared history/culture/ideals and interests. Nationalism is absurd in the modern world. It would consist primarily of the Europe, North America and Australia. Each individual state could keep its own laws to a certain degree, but must all form under a single government, military and currency. Surely this is the only way forward to continue the legacy of western civilization?
 
Joined Mar 2012
3,470 Posts | 72+
USA
It's probably a good idea, but based on what's going on in Europe it seems more likely that current ties will break than that new ties will be formed.
 
Joined Apr 2010
50,502 Posts | 11,794+
Awesome
Last edited:
What language would this hyperpower use in its documents?

Does Turkey get to join? French Guiana? Israel? Russia? Georgia? Kosovo? Bosnia?

Why doesn't South America get to join? A great deal of the population of those countries are descendants of European settlers. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church comes from there.
 
Joined Nov 2011
6,052 Posts | 167+
Confoederatio Helvetica
I think that all democratic countries with respect for the law should cooperate closely. However, the question is: What is democracy, and what is respect for the law? Forming a common state would definitely not be a good idea, because Western countries are too diverse.

With the rise of Asia, I have the impression that many Western countries get more and more interested in this region, and turn away from Europe. This is definitely true for New Zealand and Australia, but also the USA, and this development will continue to separate these countries from Europe. Geography alone is sufficient to lead to different national interests, which could hardly be reconciled in a common state.

Moreover, scandals like the current NSA affair will add to a growing mistrust among continental Europeans against the USA. Most Europeans also do not approve of torture and the death penalty, which are cornerstones of American policy. If even the British don't want to join the USA (which would definitely dominate this new "Western" state), why should the rest of Europe want to do so? American culture is anyway spreading allover the world, and in a way, that is also a unification.
 
Joined Jun 2013
5 Posts | 0+
UK
What language would this hyperpower use in its documents?

English is the most widely spoken language in the western world, so logic suggest that would be the most used language, but secondary languages can also be used for specific region.

Does Turkey get to join? French Guiana? Israel? Russia? Georgia? Kosovo? Bosnia?

Nations that join must adhere to western ideals of democracy, rule of law and human rights. If any perpective nation outside the west meets those standards than they could join

Why doesn't South America get to join? A great deal of the population of those countries are descendants of European settlers. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church comes from there.

South America has long stood opposed to the western world on many points of view
 
Joined Apr 2010
50,502 Posts | 11,794+
Awesome
And what kind of military do you think would be suitable for this hyperpower?
 
Joined Nov 2011
6,052 Posts | 167+
Confoederatio Helvetica
And what kind of military do you think would be suitable for this hyperpower?

The Italians will provide the uniforms, the French the food, the Germans the music for the ceremonies, the British the administration... and the Americans will pull the trigger. Easy, isn't it?
 
Joined Apr 2010
50,502 Posts | 11,794+
Awesome
English is the most widely spoken language in the western world, so logic suggest that would be the most used language, but secondary languages can also be used for specific region.

Your federation falls apart even before it begins. The EU has 23 official languages on its own. Try to make English the official language, and you get a big fat "non", and pronably "nien" too.

Nations that join must adhere to western ideals of democracy, rule of law and human rights. If any perpective nation outside the west meets those standards than they could join

I suspect more than a few countries in the "Western" world carry out questionable acts that do not respect human rights.

South America has long stood opposed to the western world on many points of view

And yet many of those countries today are democratic, have the rule of law, and by and large, respect human rights. Twenty years ago, a large part of south-eastern Europe was busy massacring each other. In two days time, one of them is going to join the EU.
 
Joined Apr 2010
50,502 Posts | 11,794+
Awesome
The Italians will provide the uniforms, the French the food, the Germans the music for the ceremonies, the British the administration... and the Americans will pull the trigger. Easy, isn't it?

But the way it will work out is the Germans will provide the uniforms, the British the food, the Americans the music, the Italians the administration and the French will pull the trigger.
 
Joined Aug 2012
1,733 Posts | 3+
Colorado
Ask yourself this - are you willing to have a government dominated by Americans?
 
Joined Jun 2013
5 Posts | 0+
UK
Ask yourself this - are you willing to have a government dominated by Americans?

The west is already dominated by the United States, the only difference is the citizens of other countries have no say in who the president is. The movement for a single transatlantic super power is already underway, they are paving the way for the free trade zone between Europe and North America, the next step would be a single currency, then a unified government and military to replace the individual NATO militaries which are largely obsolete anyway
 
Joined Jan 2010
13,690 Posts | 14+
♪♬ ♫♪♩
Yes, but we'll go through the valley before we climb that mountain.
 
Joined Dec 2010
6,617 Posts | 10+
The Netherlands
Ask yourself this - are you willing to have a government dominated by Americans?

It's not like my government has the balls to stand up to the US govenment anyway. What negative thing has a Ditch prime minister ever said about either the USA or the US government?
At least the French and German governmenta are independent enough to criticize them for their actions.
 
Joined Jun 2013
5 Posts | 0+
UK
Your federation falls apart even before it begins. The EU has 23 official languages on its own. Try to make English the official language, and you get a big fat "non", and pronably "nien" too.

English is widely spoken throughout europe as a second language. Language is no barrier in the 21st century anyway, how many different languages/dialects are spoken in China?



I suspect more than a few countries in the "Western" world carry out questionable acts that do not respect human rights.

And yet many of those countries today are democratic, have the rule of law, and by and large, respect human rights. Twenty years ago, a large part of south-eastern Europe was busy massacring each other. In two days time, one of them is going to join the EU.


The Western world has a unique cultural/historical experience on a scale unprecedented in human history. All roads of progress have always eventually led to democracy in the west. Many parts of the world still politically/ideologically stand opposed to the west. The first step to a unified global civilisation will have to begin with a unified Europe/North America, which stands for democracy and rule of law
 
Joined Nov 2011
6,052 Posts | 167+
Confoederatio Helvetica
English is widely spoken throughout europe as a second language. Language is no barrier in the 21st century anyway, how many different languages/dialects are spoken in China?

While most Western countries, especially the small ones, accept the supremacy of the English language, not all of them do. The language of France is French, as written in their constitution, and the French would never accept their language being relegated to the second rank. In part, I can understand their attitude.
 
Joined Apr 2010
50,502 Posts | 11,794+
Awesome
Last edited:
English is widely spoken throughout europe as a second language. Language is no barrier in the 21st century anyway, how many different languages/dialects are spoken in China?

Many, but it has one official language, Mandarin Chinese. See Grimald's point above. And bartieboy's post below.
 
Joined Dec 2010
6,617 Posts | 10+
The Netherlands
English is widely spoken throughout europe as a second language. Language is no barrier in the 21st century anyway, how many different languages/dialects are spoken in China?

Have you ever been to France Italy or Spain?
Just go ahead and try to start a concersation in English with the people there.
Most of them wouldn't be very good conversation partners.
And why would they? Their language is in no way inferior to English and they have their own cultures that are not centered around English or American culture.
 
Joined Apr 2010
50,502 Posts | 11,794+
Awesome
The Western world has a unique cultural/historical experience on a scale unprecedented in human history. All roads of progress have always eventually led to democracy in the west. Many parts of the world still politically/ideologically stand opposed to the west. The first step to a unified global civilisation will have to begin with a unified Europe/North America, which stands for democracy and rule of law

That gave me a good laugh. A scale unprecedented in human history? Perhaps from a Euro-centric point of view. As for eventually leading to democracy, that may be true in the last 70 years, a miniscule span of time compared to the rest of human history. Whether it will even last, remains to be seen.
 

Trending History Discussions

Top