Wagar seems to have found his enemy. Highly nationalistic right wing terrorists, such as skinheads, militia members, and religious fundamentalists, have replaced infantile leftists as the prime global source of bombings and assassinations. While such extremists have long existed in various guises, they are now the fringe of a larger tide of nationalist parties and politicians. The relationship of extreme to mass organizations on the right resembles more the 1920s and 30s than anything in the post-war period up till now. Nor does refutation by reputable scientists or flagging by respected journalists any longer seem to constrain their popularity.
Wager condemns nationalism as the central impediment to global statehood.
Nationalism and globalism are irreconcilable, he claims, because national rights are antithetical to worldwide individual equality and the rational planning goals of the Enlightenment. The goals of his world party must begin with condemning separate national identities and renouncing the independence of national states. A world party, he claims, has not just the organizational task, but also the moral imperative to reject cultural relativism and national identity, and instead embrace the Enlightenment goals of Western civilization. I want to take issue with Wagar on the irreconcilability of nationalism and globalism. The growth of single nation states is both a product and source of global organization.