摘要：Humanity has evolved from the family and local community over millennia through several stages to finally create the present fractured and unstable global community of nearly 200 nation-states, some of which are barely a few decades old. But already there are signs that the process of social evolution will continue until it eventually results in some form of a unified world community. The major challenges confronting humanity today all result from the inadequacy of a diverse community of sovereign nations competing with one another for power and advantage and their inability or unwillingness to act effectively and concertedly to address the problems of our collective existence. Recurring war and violence, persistent poverty, financial instability, widening inequality, ecological destruction and climate change are some of the salient features which compel us to conclude that the continued evolution is both necessary and inevitable. The material and social benefits of global unity will be immense in terms of greater and more equal access to knowledge, power and wealth, but they will bring with them a new set of challenges to ensure that peace and security are not achieved at the expense of freedom, cultural diversity and the fullest development of individuality.
