Can we live without nations?

[monkeydust]

Today, nations seem an almost fundemental part of the world, but they are a relatively recent phenomenon, up until around 200 years ago the majority of the world was not divided into nations states. So why is the concept never challenged today? Does rivalry amongst nations really benefit the majority? I would argue that nations have brought about some of the greatest problems of the last century. World war's 1 and 2 alone are evidence for this.

I know some who claim that globalisation and world trade is breaking down national barriers however I think that paradoxically it is encouraging nationalism as many seem to feel their culture threatened by foreign values.

I feel that a world without these national boundries would be far more succesful than today, I also think it is possible to do this without destroying culture of individual areas. Any thoughts?

[iloveatomickitten]

I agree.
Nations are as I see them simply the logical progression from the land of a feudal lord, just as technology has enabled power to become more centralised the states become bigger perhaps. They have little to do with production and simply produce un-productive and violent rivalry.
The cultures on the other hand will suffer from intergration and will if they fail to resist intergration become diluted and simply disappear.

[Bradyman]

To me, it's not a question of if we can, but eventually we must.

Nations, even in a communist form, would create animosty between separate countries. For who would want to live in Siberia when you could live in sunny California? Thus countries, would constantly compete with one another to be the most productive and the strongest economies. The whole notion of collectivelly working together would be forgotten if countries battled out with one another.

[ComradeRed]

Really, we all live and share the world; however, there are some 'patriots' who would rather die than live in peace with others.

[Domino]

It's been said, but we obviously must live without nations. Mexican don't like Spanish people, Spanish don't like English, English don't like Scottish and Scottish don't like English. You can see it all the time. During the World Cup -stupid example-, I see it when Mexico plays, everyone cusses Italy, Argentina, whoever Mexico is playing with. They cuss aginst the race itself. For racism to end the nations have to be gone.

One thing I don't understand. If the U$A practically doesn't have a race, and certainly not a culture of their own (just hamburgers, country music, hotdogs and Coca Cola) why are they so bloody racist with ALL the ethnicities?

[ComradeRobertRiley]

Originally posted by [email protected] 27 2003, 10:08 AM
Really, we all live and share the world; however, there are some 'patriots' who would rather die than live in peace with others.
Then they will die.


Borders are pointless.