Reinhold Niebuhr and the Question of Global Democracy

Modern imperialism is primarily a Christian phenomenon. The British Empire and now the American Empire were created by countries regarding themselves as primarily Christian. But it has been the period since the second world war, when the US became especially dominant, that imperialism has come to be seen as a threat to the very existence of civilization. Throughout much of the 20th century, America's most famous theologian was Reinhold Niebuhr. (His picture was once on the cover of Time magazine, and Barack Obama has said Niebuhr was his favorite theologian). For decades, Niebuhr brought a Christian perspective to the national discourse on issues of war, peace, international affairs, and global democracy. That his view changed dramatically over the course of his career-from first advocating for global democracy and then turning decisively against it-makes a study of his positions a useful background for renewed calls for a global democratic government. 

Our present world order allows for war, imperialism, and plutocracy, along with the increasingly dire consequences of climate chaos, pandemics, and unprecedented assaults on the idea of democracy itself. In this book, Griffin makes an impassioned case for the rejection of our present world order and a commitment to the only livable alternative-a worldwide movement to democratize human civilization.