The Fate of Mankind
Chapter 43
The nations constitute a world kingdom without a government or sovereign authority
"Internationalism" is thus developing very rapidly.
It has, through the technical evolution of means of communication, such as railways, steamships and aircraft, telephones, telegraphy and radio, so reduced distances that peoples in the various continents have become "neighbours", living next door to one another, talking to one another, doing business and exchanging goods, discussing common likes and dislikes and so on.
In the form of international trading companies, leagues of every sort, peace organisations and unions, all the states and nations are so tightly bound together that the undermining or downfall of a single state cannot possibly take place without being an inconvenience to all the other states.
In other words, internationalism is already so widespread or pronounced that the nations around the planet are in reality no longer isolated, independent states but provinces in an international world kingdom spanning the entire earth.
But this kingdom has still one great obstacle to overcome before it becomes perfect, for it is a kingdom quite without government or sovereign authority.
As government or authority is the same as protection by law and justice, the terrestrial international world kingdom is thus today quite devoid of law and justice.
However, a kingdom that is without law and justice represents no protection for the single individual or inhabitants.
They must therefore defend themselves as far as their strength allows.
The result is that the strongest individuals have the power.
As the strongest individuals are, however, not always the most just or moral, but often the most egoistic, it is might and not right that is the ruling factor.
The "inhabitants" of this kingdom, which means the nations or states, can therefore do just as they like with the power they have at their disposal.
This in turn means that an "inhabitant" (nation) must be armed.
We see this arming in the form of its army, navy and air force.
The inhabitant that has a superior war organisation has a corresponding power to oppress and exploit the other "inhabitants" (nations).
The "social system" of the terrestrial international world kingdom is therefore at a stage analogous to that of Stone Age Man.
But just as evolution led the reciprocal relations of the people of the Stone Age forward to constitute civilised nations, so will evolution also lead the reciprocal relations of the nations from this Stone Age level forward to an intellectual, humane and absolutely justly governed world kingdom.