Why Federalism Cannot Exist without Democracy

FEATURED RESEARCH PAPER, 3 Nov 2025

Manuel Galiñanes, Glen T. Martin, and Leo Klinkers – TRANSCEND Media Service

This article is part of Transcend Media Service’s ongoing dialogue on global governance, peace, and democratic transformation. The authors—longtime advocates of Earth constitutionalism and federal democracy—reflect on why a genuine world federation cannot coexist with authoritarianism, and why democracy must remain the cornerstone of any just and sustainable global order.

Meta-Description

In an era of global crises and shifting power, this article argues that a true World Federation cannot exist without democracy. Federalism, the authors contend, is a moral covenant based on consent—not coercion—and can only endure through shared democratic principles, constitutional alignment, and universal human rights.

Introduction

As humanity confronts converging crises—climate disruption, war, pandemics, and widening inequality—calls for a World Federation have grown stronger. Many now ask whether global problems demand institutions with real authority at the planetary level. Yet this vision raises a vital question:

Can a world federation include authoritarian regimes alongside democracies, or must it rest exclusively on democratic governance?

The answer goes beyond institutional design. It reaches the moral foundations of political life. Federalism without democracy is hollow; democracy without federalism is fragile. To meet global challenges, both must advance together.

Federalism as a Moral Covenant

Federalism is often portrayed in technical terms—dividing powers, establishing courts, balancing central and regional authority. But its essence is ethical. Federalism is a covenant of trust, through which diverse communities agree to share sovereignty while preserving autonomy.

Such a covenant cannot be built on fear or coercion. It rests on consent, and consent has meaning only within democracy. Without it, federalism becomes a façade: cooperation masking domination, partnership reduced to submission.

The Lessons of History

History offers clear testimony. The framers of the U.S. Constitution knew their federation would fail if even one state were ruled as a monarchy or oligarchy. Hence the Guarantee Clause, ensuring every state maintain a republican form of government.

Similarly, Switzerland, reborn as a federation in 1848, admitted only democratic cantons. India, after independence, embraced federalism as a democratic instrument for managing immense diversity—and nearly saw it unravel when democracy was suspended during the 1970s Emergency.

By contrast, federations lacking democratic roots—Yugoslavia, the West Indies Federation, and others—collapsed under the weight of coercion and mistrust. The pattern is unmistakable: federalism cannot survive without democracy.

Democracy as the Foundation of Shared Sovereignty

Today’s European Union, though not yet a full federation, follows this principle. The Copenhagen Criteria require all member states to uphold democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Authoritarian regimes are excluded until they reform, because shared sovereignty without shared values is unsustainable.

If this holds for Europe, it applies even more strongly to a global project. A World Federation cannot endure if some members silence dissent while others protect free speech, if some treat rights as negotiable while others defend them as universal. Inclusion without democracy would not create unity but paralysis—federal institutions divided between free and unfree members, unable to act coherently or justly.

Transitioning Toward Democracy

The Provisional World Parliament, operating under the Constitution for the Federation of Earth, recognized this dilemma and adopted World Legislative Act No. 53 (2005)—the Transition Act for National Governments.

The Act provides that nations not yet democratic, but willing to join the Earth Federation, receive a transitional period to adopt democratic practices. This framework keeps the door open to all while ensuring that full membership ultimately requires democratic alignment. Inclusivity and principle thus reinforce, rather than exclude, each other.

Constitutional Compatibility and Regional Pathways

Democracy alone is not enough; constitutional compatibility is also essential. Member constitutions must align with the federal charter—accepting the supremacy of federal law in agreed domains and guaranteeing fundamental rights.

The European Union again offers an instructive precedent: accession requires constitutional reforms that secure judicial independence and rule of law. Far from being bureaucratic rigidity, this alignment forms the glue of shared sovereignty.

Some propose that regional federations—European, African, or Asian—serve as transitional frameworks before global federation. Such unions can foster habits of cooperation and shared governance. Yet they also risk creating exclusive blocs or reproducing regional inequalities. To advance humanity’s unity, regional integration must therefore be open, democratic, and oriented toward the larger goal of world federation.

Beyond Multipolarity

Much has been said about the rise of a multipolar world, the decline of Western dominance, and the emergence of the BRICS alliance. But multipolarity without democracy or constitutional order is not progress—it is a rearrangement of power, not a transformation of governance.

The current international system, constrained by the outdated UN Charter, remains a patchwork of sovereign states pursuing narrow interests. What the world needs is not competing poles of power but a constitutional framework for global democracy—a system capable of upholding justice, equality, and sustainability for all peoples.

Democracy as the Price of Admission

The conclusion is clear: a genuine World Federation cannot admit authoritarian regimes as equal partners. Non-democratic states may participate as observers or transitional members, but the federation itself must rest firmly on democracy.

Without democracy, shared sovereignty degenerates into centralism; without federalism, democracy remains vulnerable to fragmentation. Together, they form the only political architecture strong enough to sustain peace and justice in the global age.

If humanity is to build a federation that secures our collective future, then democracy must remain the price of admission.

Toward the Next Step

With this vision in mind, the 16th Session of the Provisional World Parliament will convene in December 2025, in Pondicherry, India, to advance the establishment of a World Federation devoted to peace, justice, environmental protection, and human rights—a living covenant between nations and peoples for a sustainable world.

_____________________________________________________________

Dr. Glen T. Martin:
– Member, TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment
– Professor of Philosophy Emeritus
– Founder/Chairperson Emeritus, Program in Peace Studies, Radford University
– President, World Constitution and Parliament Association (WCPA);
– President, Earth Constitution Institute (ECI)
– Author of twelve books and hundreds of articles concerning global issues, human spirituality, and democratic world government; a recipient of many peace awards.
www.earthconstitution.world – Email: gmartin@radford.edu

Manuel Galiñanes – Academy of Medical and Health Sciences of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, Barcelona, Spain. President, Federal Alliance of European Federalists (FAEF). Email: manuel.galinanes@gmail.com

Leo Klinkers – Consultant in Public Administration; State University Utrecht, Netherlands; Former President, Federal Alliance of European Federalists (FAEF). Email: leoklinkers@me.com

FEATURED RESEARCH PAPER STAYS POSTED FOR 2 WEEKS BEFORE BEING ARCHIVED

This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 3 Nov 2025.

Anticopyright: Editorials and articles originated on TMS may be freely reprinted, disseminated, translated and used as background material, provided an acknowledgement and link to the source, TMS: Why Federalism Cannot Exist without Democracy, is included. Thank you.

If you enjoyed this article, please donate to TMS to join the growing list of TMS Supporters.

Share this article: email mastodon facebook 🔗 copy link

This work is licensed under a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.

There are no comments so far.