UNITED STATES AND THE COMMUNIST WORLD
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absence of most of the Asian communist states. It would appear that the
bipolar world of the cold war period is merging into a world of national
states.
Future Prospects. It seems probable that nationalism moderated by in-
ternationalism will be the trend of the future, as the world continues to
shrink, the capabilities of nuclear destruction increase, and governments
acquire a more realistic comprehension of the requirements for survival in
the nuclear age. Opposing this trend are the cold war images lingering in
the minds of many, especially in the United States, and the imperialist
ambition of great powers to exert a dominant influence on world affairs
manifested especially by the inclination of the United States, the Soviet
Union, and China to intervene in civil strife to “contain communism” or to
“assist wars of liberation.” Extreme nationalist sentiments opposing inter-
nationalism manifested especially in France, and widespread hesitancy to
strengthen international law and the United Nations also oppose this trend.
Adequate financing of United Nations peace-keeping forces, universalizing
of United Nations membership, extending the compulsory jurisdiction of
the World Court, improving the procedures for the peaceful settlement of
political disputes, and disarmament arc among steps to this end which have
been long debated but not realized.
A trend toward a world of nation states, peacefully coexisting under the
influence of international law and international organization has been the
trend since the Peace of Westphalia (1648), which relegated ideological
questions to the domestic jurisdiction of states, and especially since general
international organization began to develop in the mid-nineteenth century,
providing, with increasing efficiency, permanent machinery for the main-
tenance of international law, international cooperation, peaceful settlement
of disputes, and prevention of hostilities. There have been lapses in this
trend, but by their treaties, their declarations, their budgets, and their par-
ticipation, states have increasingly manifested the conviction that effective
international law and international institutions are necessary.
The principles of the United Nations Charter are an advance on the
international law of the nineteenth century, but improved procedures are
needed to assure their observance and to keep them up to date in a rapidly
changing world. Rapid steps toward world federation are not to be expected,
but gradual building on existing foundations may reconcile the needs for
change and for stability, respect for human rights and for states rights,
elimination of war and rectification of wrongs, nationalism and inter-
nationalism.
Governments should heed the experience registered in the progress of
international law and international organization. If the interest of all is