The Grand Convergence: Economic and Political Aspects of Human Progress

by J. Yunker

Overview

This book describes, evaluates, and advocates for, sweeping changes in our global economic and political structure to ensure the prospects of global human civilization as we confront an uncertain future. It argues both for the Marshall Plan and for a limited federal world government to replace the quasi-anarchic international regime of today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781349288113
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan US
Publication date:	10/21/2015
Edition description:	1st ed. 2010
Pages:	246
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x (d)

About the Author

JAMES A. YUNKER is Professor of Economics at Western Illinois University, USA and the author of ten books including Common Progress: The Case for a World Economic Equalization Program and Political Globalization: A New Vision of Federal World Government.

Table of Contents

Looking Ahead: The Long View Triumph or Tragedy A Long-Run Trend Nuclear and Other Nightmares What Should Be Done? Political Convergence: Supernational Federation A Pragmatic Blueprint Key Limitations and Authorizations Purposes and Policies Economic Convergence: Global Marshall Plan Economic Realities: Good and Bad Foreign Development Assistance World Economic Equalization Program Evaluation of the Program On the Practicality of Federal World Government Antecedents of World Federalism Twentieth Century Proposals The Heterogeneity Bugaboo The Issue of Nationalism On the Advisability of Federal World Government The Global Governance Myth The New World Order What Is the 'Utopian Delusion'? Drift versus Direction The Next Step: Summary and Conclusion Outline of the Argument How Is It Possible? A Final Word Notes Index

Editorial Reviews

"James Yunker offers in this work a provocative and nuanced argument for limited world government. His account is particularly notable for the sustained attention it gives to tyranny concerns, and for its accessible application of economic principles to issues related to global poverty and economic inequality. The book should be of interest to students of global governance and international relations more generally, but also those concerned with some possible means of addressing sustainable and globally comprehensive economic development." - Luis Cabrera, Senior Lecturer in Political Theory, University of Birmingham

"Conventionalwisdomarguesthat any sort of aglobal authorityis unimaginable. James Yunker challenges this view by providing an innovative plan for a limited federal world government thatgoes beyond the United Nations, but not so far as tothreaten legitimate national interests.This bookconstitutes a welcome antidote to prevalent complacencyand wishful thinking about effective global governance in the absence of effective global government." - Thomas G. Weiss, Presidential Professor of Political Science and Director of the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies, The City University of New York

"At its core The Grand Convergence is a clarion call to take seriously the question of how the global system can be structured to overcome the primary problems faced by humankind. This book makes a serious and original contribution to the literature on global governance. Whether they agree with him or not, both the lay and the professional reader will find Yunker's style highly engaging and his argument challenging." - Andrew Strauss, Distinguished Professor of Law, Widener University School of Law

From the Publisher