Union Now is a book by journalist Clarence Streit calling for a federal union of fifteen of the world's major democracies.[1] The first edition of the book was published in 1939. The book attracted public attention to world federalist and Atlanticist ideas and helped lay the groundwork for the efforts of Streit's organization Federal Union, Inc. (which later became the Association to Unite the Democracies).[2]
Front cover of the postwar edition of Clarence Streit's Union Now.
As a New York Times correspondent at the League of Nations, 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.[3] 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.[4]
Summaryedit
Streit proposed a "nucleus" of fifteen nations that he regarded as relatively mature democracies: The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. This union was to be organized roughly along the lines of the federal system of the United States: while some power would be ceded to the newly established central authority, each nation would retain some measure of sovereignty. Nations that the federation deemed worthy of membership would be added subsequently on the basis of their commitment to democracy, with the hope that the union would eventually come to encompass the entire globe.
Reception and legacyedit
Writing in the New York Times, historian James Truslow Adams 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."[5]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.[6]
However, it was partly in response to Union Now that George Orwell wrote his famous essay "Not Counting Niggers", in which he called the 'democratic' character of Streit's proposed union into doubt. While writing that Streit had "an essentially decent cast of mind," Orwell expressed pessimism about Streit's mission:
[O]ne begins to see what would really be happening if Mr Streit's scheme were put into operation. 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 USA 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 implication; all imply a tightening-up of the existing structure.[7]
Referencesedit
^Imlay, Talbot (2020). "Clarence Streit, Federalist Frameworks, and Wartime American Internationalism*". Diplomatic History. 44 (5): 808–833. doi:10.1093/dh/dhaa041. ISSN 0145-2096.
^. Association to Unite the Democracies. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
^Lynn Darling, 'The 50-Year Mission; Clarence Streit's Dream of a Transatlantic Union and the Promise of Peace', Washington Post, . p. B1.
^Adams, James Truslow Adams. "A Union of the Democracies: Mr. Streit's Plan for a Federation to Safeguard the World's Peace." The New York Times, February 19, 1939, p. 85.
^"New Peace Plan Hailed by Lothian." The New York Times, March 6, 1939, pp. 3.
union, book, journalist, clarence, streit, calling, federal, union, fifteen, world, major, democracies, first, edition, book, published, 1939, book, attracted, public, attention, world, federalist, atlanticist, ideas, helped, groundwork, efforts, streit, organ. Union Now is a book by journalist Clarence Streit calling for a federal union of fifteen of the world s major democracies 1 The first edition of the book was published in 1939 The book attracted public attention to world federalist and Atlanticist ideas and helped lay the groundwork for the efforts of Streit s organization Federal Union Inc which later became the Association to Unite the Democracies 2 Front cover of the postwar edition of Clarence Streit s Union Now Contents 1 Background 2 Summary 3 Reception and legacy 4 References 5 External linksBackground editAs a New York Times correspondent at the League of Nations 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 3 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 amp Brothers 4 Summary editStreit proposed a nucleus of fifteen nations that he regarded as relatively mature democracies The United States the United Kingdom Canada Australia New Zealand South Africa Ireland France Belgium the Netherlands Switzerland Denmark Norway Sweden and Finland This union was to be organized roughly along the lines of the federal system of the United States while some power would be ceded to the newly established central authority each nation would retain some measure of sovereignty Nations that the federation deemed worthy of membership would be added subsequently on the basis of their commitment to democracy with the hope that the union would eventually come to encompass the entire globe Reception and legacy editWriting in the New York Times historian James Truslow Adams 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 5 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 6 However it was partly in response to Union Now that George Orwell wrote his famous essay Not Counting Niggers in which he called the democratic character of Streit s proposed union into doubt While writing that Streit had an essentially decent cast of mind Orwell expressed pessimism about Streit s mission O ne begins to see what would really be happening if Mr Streit s scheme were put into operation 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 USA 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 implication all imply a tightening up of the existing structure 7 References edit Imlay Talbot 2020 Clarence Streit Federalist Frameworks and Wartime American Internationalism Diplomatic History 44 5 808 833 doi 10 1093 dh dhaa041 ISSN 0145 2096 History Association to Unite the Democracies Archived from the original on 28 August 2008 Retrieved 29 July 2009 Elijah from Missoula Time 27 March 1950 Lynn Darling The 50 Year Mission Clarence Streit s Dream of a Transatlantic Union and the Promise of Peace Washington Post p B1 Adams James Truslow Adams A Union of the Democracies Mr Streit s Plan for a Federation to Safeguard the World s Peace The New York Times February 19 1939 p 85 New Peace Plan Hailed by Lothian The New York Times March 6 1939 pp 3 Orwell George Not Counting Niggers The Adelphi July 1939 Archived from the original External links editFull text at Internet Archive Full text at the Constitution Society Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Union Now amp oldid 1179308550, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
