A few years ago, I read an as-of-yet-published manuscript by Chris Brooke (Cambridge) on the significance of functional integration in liberal ideas about federalism, especially in the nineteenth century. And this alerted me to a style of argument that seems to originate in Molesworth (not himself a liberal) and is very salient in Adam Smith and Cobden.
And on another note some vision of what you refer to as 'minimum dignity' seems essential for a viable global liberal democratic political consciousness. We need a concept of the basics of human dignity that can be advocated, end empathised with, universally. This is not to reject the concept of human rights. But to acknowledge the need for some political concept of the 'human' which we can feel some connection with, just as people feel some sense of connection with their fellow nationals. The current trend to emphasising national identities at the expense of human identities is a devastating one. So I'm really looking forward to reading more of your concept of minimum dignity.
Thanks for a very interesting, and (assuming I've understood you correctly),encouraging, read. In relation to a democratic world order does the EU offer a partial example of an ideal becoming 'self actualising it it grips a sufficient number of people' ? While there is a well established narrative of the founding of the EU, with the Schuman Declaration referring to the 'concrete foundation of a European federation' the particular structures and practices that took things to the EU level could be seen as the contribution of many different people at different points in history creating plans of bits and pieces of the whole based on their own vision ? If the EU is an example of a transnational ideal self actualising in this way, could that be inspiration for a more global vision of democratic order to come about ?
And on another note some vision of what you refer to as 'minimum dignity' seems essential for a viable global liberal democratic political consciousness. We need a concept of the basics of human dignity that can be advocated, end empathised with, universally. This is not to reject the concept of human rights. But to acknowledge the need for some political concept of the 'human' which we can feel some connection with, just as people feel some sense of connection with their fellow nationals. The current trend to emphasising national identities at the expense of human identities is a devastating one. So I'm really looking forward to reading more of your concept of minimum dignity.
Thanks for a very interesting, and (assuming I've understood you correctly),encouraging, read. In relation to a democratic world order does the EU offer a partial example of an ideal becoming 'self actualising it it grips a sufficient number of people' ? While there is a well established narrative of the founding of the EU, with the Schuman Declaration referring to the 'concrete foundation of a European federation' the particular structures and practices that took things to the EU level could be seen as the contribution of many different people at different points in history creating plans of bits and pieces of the whole based on their own vision ? If the EU is an example of a transnational ideal self actualising in this way, could that be inspiration for a more global vision of democratic order to come about ?
I think the EU offers a partial example, but I would stress more than Wells, I think, the need for leadership to make it selfactualising