‘society’ refers to the whole rather than a part … to all the people. The notion of ‘world policeman' arose in discussion of Afghanistan: Rory Stewart; Daniel Finkelstein; Matthew Parris. Philip Allott wrote (letters to the Times): “No ‘world policeman could control the impending chaos in Afghanistan …” He then makes a more general point: “… which only adds one more element to a global chaos that includes climate change and the threat of further pandemics and wars …” He calls for a change: “… We will never begin to meet these challenges unless there is a fundamental change in our understanding of the international system …” He introduces the notion of ‘serving the common interest” “… Britain led the way in the social development of the western world by establishing the idea that government and law are to be seen as serving the common interest of society through a system that eventually involved all the people …” He contrasts this with the notion of ‘the self-interest of states’: “… the great powers of the 19th century imposed a system serving the self-interest of states represented by their governments.” He addresses the ‘governments of great powers’: “… If governments of great powers cannot recognise that they have a duty as servants of the interest of mankind …” He calls on the ‘combined power of the majority of countries’: “… they must be made to do so by the combined power of the majority of countries that are helpless victims of the universal chaos.” Philip Allott has written many books and articles containing much the same message. Here are links to some of them: https://www.ejiltalk.org/making-humanity-greater-again-self-evolving-and-self-perfecting/ |