Union Now
Encyclopedia
Union Now is journalist and Atlanticist
Clarence Streit
's proposal for a federal union of the world's major democracies. The first edition of the book was published in 1939. The book is notable for its contribution to the formation of the Atlantic Movement, spearheaded by such groups as Federal Union, Inc. (which later became the Association to Unite the Democracies
) and the Atlantic Union Committee.
, Streit was disturbed by the democracies' apparent inability to deal with such crises as the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and the rise of Nazism
. He came to the conclusion that at the root of the League's problems were nationalism
and the democracies' ignorance of their own share of the world's economic and military power. Streit began work on his proposal for a union of democracies in 1933. In 1938, with world war
appearing increasingly likely, the book was accepted for publication by Harper & Brothers
.
world, the trend towards growing domestic exposure to "external" problems had led many to embrace a reactive posture. In parts of Europe
, this meant an increasingly belligerent nationalism that sacrificed freedom for security; in the United States
, it meant an isolationism
that sought to defend against global conflicts rather than working to prevent them. With freedom within nations and peace among them at risk, internationalist
proposals such as the League of Nations
fell short: in addition to lacking effective decision-making and enforcement mechanisms, they placed too much emphasis on sovereign
governments, marginalizing the individuals they represented.
Streit proposed a Union that, along the lines of American federalism
, brought together the democracies of Europe, North America and the former parts of the British Empire
under a single government with the power to grant citizenship and wage war; its membership would expand as more nations joined the democratic camp. This Union would honor individual rights while combining the economic and military power of the world’s democracies against autocratic regimes. Streit argued that the centralization of certain government services and the removal of tariffs would also increase economic efficiency. As a federalist, however, Streit also supported considerable autonomy and home rule
for the formerly sovereign nation-states.
offered cautious praise for Streit's proposal, stating that "[s]ome day, in the kind of world we live in, with space annihilated and interdependence between nations complete, something like what Mr. Streit suggests will have to come to pass." Philip Kerr, 11th Marquess of Lothian
also praised the book, describing Streit's plan as a democratic, peaceful alternative to the ideological visions provided by fascism and communism. A number of prominent figures, including Supreme Court Justice Owen Roberts and Undersecretary of State William Clayton
, joined the Atlantic Movement as a result of the book's publication.
However, it was in response to Union Now that George Orwell
wrote his famous essay Not Counting Niggers, in which he riposted that:
Briefly what Mr Streit suggests is that the democratic nations, starting with fifteen which he names, should voluntarily form themselves into a union - not a league or an alliance, but a union similar to the United States, with a common government, common money, . . .
The British and French empires, with their six hundred million disenfranchised human beings, would simply be receiving fresh police forces; the huge strength of the U.S.A. would be behind the robbery of India and Africa. Mr. Streit is letting cats out of bags, but all phrases like 'Peace Bloc', 'Peace Front', etc., contain some such implications; all imply a tightening-up of the existing structure. The unspoken clause is always 'not counting niggers.' For how can we make a 'firm stand' against Hitler if we are simultaneously weakening ourselves at home? In other words, how can we 'fight Fascism' except by bolstering up a far vaster injustice?
Atlanticism
Atlanticism is a philosophy of cooperation among Western European and North American nations regarding political, economic, and defense issues, with the purpose to maintain the security of the participating countries, and to protect the values that unite them: "democracy, individual liberty and...
Clarence Streit
Clarence Streit
Clarence Kirschmann Streit was a journalist and Atlanticist who played a prominent role in the Atlantic Movement....
's proposal for a federal union of the world's major democracies. The first edition of the book was published in 1939. The book is notable for its contribution to the formation of the Atlantic Movement, spearheaded by such groups as Federal Union, Inc. (which later became the Association to Unite the Democracies
Association to Unite the Democracies
The Association to Unite the Democracies, or AUD, is an organization devoted to transforming the North Atlantic Treaty Organization from a military alliance into a full political union open to other established democracies as well. AUD was founded by Clarence Streit, New York Times correspondent at...
) and the Atlantic Union Committee.
Background
As a New York Times correspondent at the League of NationsLeague of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
, Streit was disturbed by the democracies' apparent inability to deal with such crises as the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and the rise of Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
. He came to the conclusion that at the root of the League's problems were nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
and the democracies' ignorance of their own share of the world's economic and military power. Streit began work on his proposal for a union of democracies in 1933. In 1938, with world war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
appearing increasingly likely, the book was accepted for publication by Harper & Brothers
Harper & Brothers
Harper is an American publishing house, the flagship imprint of global publisher HarperCollins.-History:James Harper and his brother John, printers by training, started their book publishing business J. & J. Harper in 1817. Their two brothers, Joseph Wesley Harper and Fletcher Harper, joined them...
.
Summary
Streit argued that, in a globalizingGlobalization
Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships of culture, people and economic activity. Most often, it refers to economics: the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import...
world, the trend towards growing domestic exposure to "external" problems had led many to embrace a reactive posture. In parts of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, this meant an increasingly belligerent nationalism that sacrificed freedom for security; in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, it meant an isolationism
Isolationism
Isolationism is the policy or doctrine of isolating one's country from the affairs of other nations by declining to enter into alliances, foreign economic commitments, international agreements, etc., seeking to devote the entire efforts of one's country to its own advancement and remain at peace by...
that sought to defend against global conflicts rather than working to prevent them. With freedom within nations and peace among them at risk, internationalist
Internationalism (politics)
Internationalism is a political movement which advocates a greater economic and political cooperation among nations for the theoretical benefit of all...
proposals such as the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
fell short: in addition to lacking effective decision-making and enforcement mechanisms, they placed too much emphasis on sovereign
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
governments, marginalizing the individuals they represented.
Streit proposed a Union that, along the lines of American federalism
Federalism
Federalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant with a governing representative head. The term "federalism" is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and...
, brought together the democracies of Europe, North America and the former parts of the British Empire
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
under a single government with the power to grant citizenship and wage war; its membership would expand as more nations joined the democratic camp. This Union would honor individual rights while combining the economic and military power of the world’s democracies against autocratic regimes. Streit argued that the centralization of certain government services and the removal of tariffs would also increase economic efficiency. As a federalist, however, Streit also supported considerable autonomy and home rule
Home rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
for the formerly sovereign nation-states.
Reception and Legacy
Writing in the New York Times, historian James Truslow AdamsJames Truslow Adams
James Truslow Adams was an American writer and historian. He was not related to the famous Adams family...
offered cautious praise for Streit's proposal, stating that "[s]ome day, in the kind of world we live in, with space annihilated and interdependence between nations complete, something like what Mr. Streit suggests will have to come to pass." Philip Kerr, 11th Marquess of Lothian
Philip Kerr, 11th Marquess of Lothian
Philip Henry Kerr, 11th Marquess of Lothian KT CH PC was a British politician and diplomat.Philip Kerr was the son of Lord Ralph Drury Kerr, the third son of John Kerr, 7th Marquess of Lothian...
also praised the book, describing Streit's plan as a democratic, peaceful alternative to the ideological visions provided by fascism and communism. A number of prominent figures, including Supreme Court Justice Owen Roberts and Undersecretary of State William Clayton
William L. Clayton
William Lockhart "Will" Clayton was an American business leader and government official.-Early life and career:...
, joined the Atlantic Movement as a result of the book's publication.
However, it was in response to Union Now that George Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
wrote his famous essay Not Counting Niggers, in which he riposted that:
Briefly what Mr Streit suggests is that the democratic nations, starting with fifteen which he names, should voluntarily form themselves into a union - not a league or an alliance, but a union similar to the United States, with a common government, common money, . . .
The British and French empires, with their six hundred million disenfranchised human beings, would simply be receiving fresh police forces; the huge strength of the U.S.A. would be behind the robbery of India and Africa. Mr. Streit is letting cats out of bags, but all phrases like 'Peace Bloc', 'Peace Front', etc., contain some such implications; all imply a tightening-up of the existing structure. The unspoken clause is always 'not counting niggers.' For how can we make a 'firm stand' against Hitler if we are simultaneously weakening ourselves at home? In other words, how can we 'fight Fascism' except by bolstering up a far vaster injustice?