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Einstein’s Political vision?

The greatest scientist and intelligent man in human history, Albert Einstein, who would qualify himself as a genius philosophical and political thinker as well by his own right, had foreseen a united world administered by a Federalist World Government. For a person of mediocre intellect, vision and foresight like me, his views on philosophical and political issues appear very interesting, innovative, thought-provoking, progressive and at times crazy. He appeared to have thought about an issue long and deep before taking a stand or making a judgment on it. His thoughts on politics and philosophical issues have been very intelligent and often novel, like his thoughts and contribution in science.

However, one will be confused by his passionate movement for a Federalist World Government to rule the world, which appears a crazy thought or at least impractical. I will here give a well-rounded thought before rejecting or accepting his idea of a Federalist World Government.

Einstein was born and lived in a crazy world dominated by the imperialist Britain and other European nation’s colonial rule over vast parts of the world. This was followed by two greatest and devastating wars of history, the WW-I and WW-II. These events were accompanied with and followed by the insanity of the communist movements around the world, which has caused more suffering to humanity than the all other sufferings combined during his time. Of course, the resurgent apocalyptic communist movement around the world invited United State’s single-minded and sometimes violent opposition to communists which caused further sufferings - say in Vietnam. Given that crazy world Einstein lived in, it is easily conceivable that the greatest man of his time might have sought a quick-fix to all the world crises he witnessed. Hence he might have invented this apparently romantic and impractical idea of a World Government, where nationalistic fervor will be nonexistent which he considered the major ill of the troubles he had witnessed. This is expressed his famous opinion on patriotic nationalism: "Nationalism [patriotism] is an infantile sickness. It is the measles of mankind” or "Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism -- how passionately I hate them!” Here he clearly sees a national boundary-less world as a fix to many devastating human miseries.

Should Einstein’s Political vision be discarded?

Given the circumstances elaborated above, it will be easy to dump his idea of a Federalist World Government in the waste-bin considering it as a desperately-sought romantic but impractical quick-fix. However, a careful consideration to the world events, especially following WW-II, must be given vis-à-vis Einstein’s vision on world politics before discarding it.

Of course, throughout Einstein’s living days, there was a vigorous effort by the communist movement to bring the world under one umbrella. Although, Einstein was sometimes labeled a communist, he was all against the violent means of acquiring power as practiced by the communist movement. He also labeled prominent communists as gangsters as he says, "From my point of view both Stalin and Trotsky are political gangsters". No, Einstein was not a signatory of the violent internationalist communist movement through his vision of a Federalist World Government but he definitely had a different world order in his vision. His ultimate political philosophy points to such an alternative vision: The only justifiable purpose of political institutions is to insure the unhindered development of the individual or "The state exists for man, not man for the state. The same may be said of science.....”  These are the finest statements on the vision of a democratic free world as we understand today, which is absolutely in contrast to what communism stand for. He further showed his passion for democracy when he says, "My political ideal is democracy. Let every man be respected as an individual and no man idolized. It is an irony of fate that I myself have been the recipient of excessive admiration and reverence from my fellow-beings, through no fault, and no merit, of my own.”

Einstein, despite his pro-Zionist activities, was a Godless human being. He didn't have any religion, no culture and he did not believe in national boundary as well. He wanted to see a uniform world where humanism is the single religion and culture and all people enjoy the similar and the best form of Governance, education, human right and of course economic privileges in contrast to the enormous disparity he witnessed which exist even today.

But question must be asked if his idea of a federalist world order is practically sustainable or not. And at the first hand look, it does not appear so - not at least under the present world order. But a closer look would also unmask some traits of Einstein’s world vision taking root on the world stage.

Let us have closer look at the European Union. The entire Western Europe today is much more united in their political and ideological stand and unified (homogeneous) in political, social, economical and human rights issues. They did not stop there - the Eastern Europe, which was devastated by the communist tyranny following Soviet occupation after the WW-II, is joining the European in their desire to achieve a uniform political, social, economical and human development issues. With EU's whole-hearted effort and United States’ generous political and financial assistance, the filth left behind by Communists in those countries would be cleared in a couple of decade, if not sooner. It is not impossible that entire Soviet Union block including Russia will be part of EU in the near future so as to establish a giant state of homogeneous social, political, economical and human rights order. Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, Japan and Singapore have either already instituted a similar order or are approaching that stage. And with strong cooperation and understanding amongst these nations, we already witness a mini-world with a homogeneous social, political, economical and human rights order which is compatible with the world order of Einstein's vision.

Despite such a world order being instituted apparently along the line of Einstein's vision in great parts of our world, there still remains much disparity amongst large parts of the Muslims world, in Asia, South America and Africa.  In order for these hopeless nations to elevate themselves to the level of advanced mini-world of supposedly Einstein’s dream, they need lead from the Western democratic world to institute fair and responsible governance. More importantly, they need investment and technology from the capitalistic West in order to rid their economic woes. But bigotry of religious and religio-cultural conservatism, mixed with a fever-pitch anti-Capitalist, anti-West/America leftist-communist propaganda by the corrupt governments and political leaders in these societies have created a hostile atmosphere against the Capitalist West. This is blocking inflow of investment by the Capitalist world to create jobs and improve the lot of the people in those countries. Such hostile relationship also does not allow the democratic West assist these countries to institute democratic, responsible and non-corrupt civil institutions in the way EU is doing in Eastern Europe. This religious and socio-political bigotry and ever-growing hatred and suspicion, amongst people of the impoverished third world and Muslim nations, towards the Capitalist democratic nations remain the biggest hurdle against pushing these nations towards achieving excellence in social, political, economic and human rights issues. Without creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust and an investment-friendly economic and political order, achieving such a goal is not possible for the Muslim and the Third world countries.

A roughly uniform socio-political order, which Einstein might have had envisioned, appear to remain a far-cry for decades to come, if at all. However, the United Nations, which command a great respect amongst Governments and people of the Muslim and the Third World, may step in to rescue Einstein’s vision on world order and expedite the process of reaching that goal. However, a closed examination of the present-day UN’s moral standing must be done to evaluate if she can uphold the vision of unifying this world towards a homogeneous social, political and economic order.

UN’s state of affairs

It is a fact that majority of the 191 members states of the UN belong to Muslims and the Third World whose Governments are corrupt, tyrannical and repressive and indulge in violation of human rights in all forms. Hence, the obvious popularity of this institution amongst leaders of the Muslim and the Third World is easily understandable. Because this is where, these corrupt and tyrannical Governments enjoy good freedom to vent their unjustified hatred and anger towards the developed West. The expulsion of the US from the UN’s human rights commission to include one of today’s cruelest dictatorial regimes, namely Syria, in recent times is an example of that.

UN obtains most of her funds from the capitalist West, with US alone contributing almost 25%. These funds are invested in so-called human and economic development programs (UNDP etc.) in the Third World, most of which goes into the pockets of the corrupt Government officials and their cronies. One investigation in Bangladesh showed that only 17% percent of the UN’s project money goes into real work, whilst 83% are pocketed illegally by the corrupt officials. UN’s lack of effort to make the respective Governments accountable has seriously hindered the economic and human development in the Third World resulting in wastage of money generously donated by the capitalist West.

Now the world hears that UN fund is not only spoiled by the recipient Governments but officials of the UN are also probably involved in corruption and nepotism with UN’s funds and project. And this time, son of the head of the UN himself appeared to have made money from the Iraq Oil for food program. If proven true, it will absolutely unacceptable that when the whole world was trying hard to bring Saddam to his feet through harsh sanctions causing so much of sufferings to common Iraqis, this great world body was helping Saddam to survive and continue to carry out rape, torture, murder and repression of his people. This would be an unacceptable criminal act on part of the UN and especially for Kofi Annan. This will also explain why Kofi Annan and the UN along with China, Russia and France, who were making easy money from illegal deal with Saddam, would vehemently oppose the removal of this brutal dictator. And when the allegations of corruption, which UN denied as long as they could, is going to be proven correct, Kofi Annan is trying to distance himself from his son to claim his own innocence. And of course, the anti-war brigade, consisting of China, France and Russia are out to offer solid support to a supposedly corrupt person who heads greatest international organization of immense responsibility. A thorough investigation has to be conducted to get to the bottom of everything to find out the culprits who helped linger the suffering of the people of Iraq. If possible, they should be tried for their crime against the people of Iraq and thrown into jail. If Governments of China, Russia and France have participated or turned blind to businesses from those countries making lucrative deals with Saddam, those Government should be made responsible for lingered suffering of the people of Iraq.

Can UN command moral authority of major world affairs?

In regard to the Iraq war, the head of the UN (Kofi Annan) has repeatedly offered moral verdicts on the legality of the war, calling it illegal. But UN, which is mainly a league of majority of corrupt member nations, cannot and should qualify to give a moral verdict on a big issue like removing a murderous tyrant like Saddam Hussein in our time. It is natural that many of the UN’s member-Governments are themselves not much better administrators than Saddam and they would naturally disapprove removal of Saddam who was hardly different from them. Allowing such actions also increases a likelihood that those corrupt and repressive Governments may also find themselves in Saddam’s shoes one day. Naturally, it is the mostly corrupt Governments of the Third world vehemently opposed the war in Iraq.

Making of a future UN

UN was created in 1945 under very special circumstances and in a very different world mainly to safe-guard individual member state’s sovereignty. Over the past 6 decades since UN’s birth, world has moved on – the modern-day concept of human rights, ethics of governance and state’s responsibility towards her citizens’ welfare and treatment etc. have changed much, at least in the developed part of the world. There is a declaration on Universal Human Rights adopted by the UN. It is important for the UN to realize that if she wants to be recognized and respected as the highest moral authority of our world today, it is her duty to make serious efforts to institute good governance, human rights and welfare of people of individual member states. While setting standard for herself, UN must not look to the Third world and pacify those corrupt and useless Governments. But instead, UN must look to the Western democratic world or a step ahead while designing her vision. UN should be strengthened and redesigned to be able to enforce that vision to member states, that is, UN must be able tell member governments to treat their citizen well, govern the state properly, cut corruption etc. If not, UN should be ready to throw failed governments out of power, better by force than sanctions. Sanctions have hardly solved any world crises other than causing further suffering to the innocent common people.

Call for Reforming the UN

There is a call for reforming UN. There is a suggestion that UN’s stand be made strong against governments that do not respect the welfare and rights of their citizens. These are very encouraging signs – thanks to the US’s hard-headed stand to remove Saddam. It is a welcome sign that UN is probably going to reform to a stronger institution which will not allow murderous tyrants like Saddam to rule any nation on earth. All humans are one race, descendents of common ancestors and all humans are brothers and sisters. It is unacceptable to a modern human conscience that some of them will enjoy the best of wealth, education, citizen’s rights and freedom whilst others in another country will be repressed, tortured and raped by their governments whilst plundering nation’s wealth.

It is important that UN be reformed with a vision for dishing out the best of governance, human rights and welfare to every people in our world. It is important that UN be strengthened to uphold the principle of Einstein’s political vision: “The only justifiable purpose of political institutions is to insure the unhindered development of the individual.” And UN must be strong and proactive to enforce this political vision in every country on earth. The recent call to reform UN is apparently a welcome sign to direct UN along that line.

But there has also been a call for increasing the membership of UN’s Security Council to include countries like India, Brazil and Nigeria amongst others as permanent members but without a veto power. It will be welcome to increase the size of the Security Council so that more countries can come in to shoulder the burden of international duty. However, permanent membership should be given to countries that can uphold a good standard of governance, human rights and people’s welfare. Countries like India, Brazil and Nigeria, which are infested with all sorts of corruption, human rights violation and poor governance, must not be given greater say in the world affairs. Giving greater opportunities to such countries may lower of moral vision of the UN. Commissions should be set up to look into the standard of governance, human rights and lack of corrupt of prospective countries seeking for permanent membership. A scale of standard should be set up for evaluating these issues in different countries and those falling below certain standard should be kept away from the permanent membership. There shouldn’t be any bar if countries like Japan, Germany, Australia, Canada, Italy etc., who have already set very high standard in each of these areas, seek a permanent membership in the Security Council to shoulder greater international responsibility. UN is already spoiled by permanent members with veto power, namely Russia and China, which have very poor standard in governance, corrupt and human rights. Adding more such countries to the permanent league would only add more difficulty for the UN to enforce the vision of a better world.

Future UN and the Word of Einstein’s dream

It is imperative to remake of the UN of 1945 to the standard of the new millennium with vision for unified and homogeneous future world order. The concept of national boundary and sovereignty are just groundless man-made concepts. Capitalizing on such concept people like Saddam, Robert Mugabe and Kim Il Jong cannot mercilessly repress, torture and murder their people whilst the outside world just keep watching such inhuman cruelty because the no-outside-interference principle on which UN was created. This is not unacceptable at all. National boundary, sovereignty etc. are only self-serving man-made ideas, which no eternal basis. Only eternal thing is – we are all human beings; we are brothers and sisters, irrespective of where we live in. And every human being on earth should deserve the same freedom, human rights and dignity. An ideal UN should have a responsibility to ensure that people’s human rights, dignity and welfare are respected everywhere.

If UN can transform herself with such a vision that wherever people’s right, dignity and welfare are trampled by their Governments, she would have the right to interfere, if needed with force so as to install good governance. Corruption-free good governance is the key to economic success of a nation. UN can take lead from the United State’s post-WWII role in Japan and Germany, which have become two finest nations on earth from barbaric murderous ones. If such transformation can be brought to every corner of the world to a mostly uniform standard of governance, economic emancipation and human development – the world will be united than ever. That will be a world apparently ruled by virtually uniform code of governance – a world apparently ruled by one unified Government. UN would be at the centre of world affairs to set standard for governance, human rights, people’s welfare etc. in every country. That will be the world of Einstein’s vision: a world free of harmful religions, cultures and tradition - a world free of devastating human instincts like patriotism and nationalism. This vision of a world for solely human welfare has been spelled in Einstein’s lamentation: "My passionate sense of social justice and social responsibility has always contrasted oddly with my pronounced lack of need for direct contact with other human beings and human communities. I am truly a 'lone traveler' and have never belonged to my country, my home, my friends, or even my immediate family, with my whole heart; in the face of all these ties, I have never lost a sense of distance and a need for solitude..."  Whatever be the structure of governance of that world, every people on earth would enjoy the best of everything that the world would have to offer.

Concluding remarks

Einstein’s idea of an ideal UN and world government appear preposterous and romantic today. But would such a preposterous idea materialize? May be or may be not. We see encouraging signs looking at Europe but a discouraging one when looked at the Muslim and third world. Einstein, despite his unparallel genius, was not correct on everything about science. But for sure, he was a man centuries ahead of his time as were Newton and Galileo et al. His scientific genius has graced the real world already, but time only will tell about his political genius.

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References:

1.       Einstein: A Life - By Denis Brian, John Wiley 1996

2.       THE WORLD AS I SEE IT - By Albert Einstein, Citadel Press (1993)

3.       Einstein  in American Museum of Natural History

4.       UN plan demands more intervention  [BBC]

5.       Last chance saloon for UN?  [BBC]