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Universalism versus Regionalism in International Organization

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2013

Pitman B. Potter
Pitman B. Potter
Affiliation:
Oberlin College
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Extract

One of the issues likely to become more acute than many others as we move into the period of post-war international reorganization in the next few months is that of regionalism versus universalism. This is the conflict between the view that international organization should proceed upon a regional basis—leaving definition of the proper region or regions aside for the moment—and the view that it should proceed upon a world-wide basis. The partisans of these two views are vigorous in their support, and the problem in itself is extremely important from both a theoretical and a practical standpoint. It has so far not received anything like the attention it deserves.

The problem is, of course, not unknown in the national and local spheres of government. Here it is formulated as the question of the proper area of government, or even the ideal size of the state, and this slightly different formulation carries its own implication concerning the treatment of the problem. The issue also arises on the border-line between national and international political problems when the formation of federal unions is under consideration, together with the question of the proper allocation of powers to the central government. We shall later draw upon experience in all of these matters for aid in solving our own problem.

Type
International Affairs—Problems of Post-War Reconstruction
Information
American Political Science Review , Volume 37 , Issue 5 , October 1943 , pp. 850 - 862
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 1943

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References

1 There is no good comprehensive monographic study of regionalism in English. A monumental doctoral thesis on Regionalism in Relation to the League of Nations, by Blum, Robert, written in 1936 Google Scholar, lies in manuscript in the library of the University of California, and a somewhat more limited manuscript on Regional Understandings, written by MissRandolph, Bessie, and dated 1926 Google Scholar, is in the Harvard Library. Probably the best fragmentary treatment of the subject is to be found in Dr.Ranshofen-Wertheimer, E., Victory Is Not Enough (New York, 1942), pp. 185, 283–91.Google Scholar See also Brecht, A., “Limited-Purpose Federations,” Social Research, Vol. X, No. 2 (May, 1943), p. 135.Google Scholar In French, see de Orúe, J. R. y Arregúi, , “Le Régionalisme dans l'Organisation Internationale,” in Académie de Droit International, Receuil des Cours, Vol. 53 (Paris, 1936), p. 1.Google Scholar

Brief notice of the question is taken by the present writer in Which Way America?, University of Wisconsin symposium on post-war planning and adjustment, to be published during the coming winter. He has drawn on that discussion for various elements incorporated herein. He would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Ranshofen-Wertheimer for very useful criticism of the present article in draft form.

2 Garner, J. W., Political Science and Government (New York, 1928), p. 77.Google Scholar

3 Ranshofen-Wertheimer, pp. 283–284.

4 Ibid.

5 “Note on the Distinction between Political and Technical Questions,” in Polit. Sci. Quar., Vol. 50, No. 2 (June, 1935), p. 264.

6 Hostie, J., “Communications and Transit,” in Institute on World Organization, World Organization (Washington, 1942), p. 158.Google Scholar

7 Potter, P. B., Introduction to the Study of International Organization (1st ed., New York, 1922), p. 283.Google Scholar

8 Culbertson, E., World Federation Plan (New York, 1942), p. 24.Google Scholar

9 International Telecommunication Convention, 1932: United States Treaty Series No. 867.

10 For example, the International Penal and Penitentiary Commission: League of Nations, Handbook of International Organization (rev. ed., Geneva, 1938), p. 250.Google Scholar

11 For example, the International Central American Bureau.

12 The Universal Postal Union inevitably comes to mind, but could be matched by many more.

13 Hoover, H. and Gibson, H., The Problems of Lasting Peace (New York, 1942), p. 264.Google Scholar

14 Convention of the Postal Union of the Americas and Spain, 1931, Preamble and Arts. 1, 2: 131 League of Nations Treaty Series, p. 249.Google ScholarPubMed

15 White, L. D., Introduction to the Study of Public Administration (rev. ed., New York, 1939), Chap. 12.Google Scholar

16 Discussed in work cited in note 7 above (4th ed.), Chap. 12, Sec. 3.

17 Orúe y Arregúi, as cited, pp. 82, 90.

18 The International Institute for Intellectual Coöperation (Paris), the International Educational Cinematographic Institute (Rome), the International Centre for Leprosy Research (Rio de Janeiro), etc.

19 Discussed by the present writer in “The League of Nations and Other International Organization,” in Geneva Research Centre, Geneva Special Studies, Vol. V. No. 6 (Geneva, 1934).Google Scholar

20 Treaty of Locarno, Preamble and Arts. 2–4, 7: 54 League of Nations Treaty Series, p. 289.Google Scholar

21 Pact of Organization of the Little Entente, 1933, Art. 10: 139 League of Nations Treaty Series, p. 233.Google ScholarPubMed

22 Convention of the Universal Postal Union, 1929, Art. 5: 102 League of Nations Treaty Series, p. 245.Google Scholar

23 That is, cases where regionalism has been advocated, not with a view to rendering international relations and coöperation more effective, but with a view to preserving greater national liberty of action while pretending to do the other thing. See, for example, much of the insistence by the United States on limiting her participation in international organization to the Western Hemisphere.

24 Hull, C., “American Foreign Trade Policies,” in Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, International Conciliation, No. 323 (New York, 1936), p. 458.Google Scholar

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