"Since the 1970's, a profound shift has taken place in the roles of the public, private, and non-for-profit sectors. In the wake of fiscal crisis, ideological attacks, and privatization, the scope and capacity of governments has declined" (Lindenberg 130). In other words, the roles of national governments have dramatically changes and faded into insignificance on the global scale over the past decades, which may be considered as a prospect for the emergence of a new voluntaristic world government ruling the entire world.
In actual fact, "as the decline in the capacity of states continues, many politicians around the world have extolled the virtues of voluntarism" (Lindenberg 145). However, the existing conditions do not seem appropriate and right enough to me in the context of the voluntaristic emergence of a new world government.
If a world voluntaristic government were to appear, it would definitely bring about profound changes in the existing world order. In the first place, it would entail the development of a global legal system - a set of unified rules and regulation applicable within any country. Secondly, the world government would bring about fundamental changes in the system of world trade and international economic relations. More importantly, the emergence of such government would provide for the development of a new global security system. It would also bring about the development and introduction of a new system of taxation.
Speaking from the perspective of authority, a voluntaristic world is likely to be governed by the most influential and prominent figures of the present time, including opinion shapers, corporate heads of multinational companies, and outstanding scholars.
The advocates of an idea of a new voluntaristic world government argue that it "can fill the service gap and that people may indeed be willing to give more donations to humanitarian activities as their taxes decrease" (Lindenberg 145). A voluntaristic world government would provide for the establishment of a system of globally shared natural resources, which might reduce poverty and scarcity in the remote regions around the globe. Another considerable advantage of such system of government lies in the reduced chance of a nuclear strike and any nuclear activity. A voluntaristic world government would also provide for the establishment of a consistent global regulatory system, which would be beneficial for multinational companies and business taken as a whole.
One of the major possible disadvantages of a world government is the disregard of cultural peculiarities of each nation and ethnicity, which might generate negative consequences to the unique character of particular nations and cultures. Another adverse effect associated with the emergence of a voluntaristic world government would be the lack of competition in all areas of human activity as technological and scientific advancements are likely to happen only under competitive conditions.
However, such new government might encounter numerous challenges. The first potential obstacle is the resistance from the existing governments and influential political leaders who might not want to lose their power. Another significant challenge would be related to the financial system, sources of funding, etc. That is, it would be extremely difficult to create and maintain effective financial and economic order.
Works Cited
Lindenberg, Marc. "Declining State Capacity, Voluntarism, and the Globalization of the Non-for Profit Sector." Public Management: Critical Perspectives. Ed. Stephen P. Osborne. Vol. IV. London: Routledge, 2002. 130-50. Print.
