Governmental disregard for international values and procedures

Nation states' disregard for world opinion

Nature

Each government considers itself to be on its own, and participates in the world system to maximize its national goals. Alliances are mutually advantageous contracts to preserve a status quo against an ambitious rival. There is very little tradition of deference to some general assessment of planetary needs. The adverse effects of such policies are only perceived and experienced at the point at which excess capacity begins to disappear and a condition of scarcity begins to emerge.

Counter-claim

Governments, since the Second World War, have created a number of globe-spanning intergovernmental bodies, including the United Nations system and its related agencies. In addition, there has been a very high level of regional international cooperation within corresponding intergovernmental organizations. There has never been, in recorded history, a higher degree of international conciliation and agreement attempts and successes. The world system of sovereign states is dynamic and consequently it produce disequilibria and stresses. There is no such thing as world community values and procedures for national sovereignty to be passively subordinated to. The world system is pluralistic. There are many communities with many values. The principle of sovereignty is precisely that it allows nations to act unilaterally in their own interests, and this principle is recognized by all the communities of nations.