Chapter 05
AI, HOW THE WORLD CAN AND SHOULD REORGANIZE GOVERNANCE
A very profound and timely question; it touches the heart of the historical moment we are living through. I propose a restructuring of global governance from a humanistic, practical, and realistic perspective , very much in line with the spirit of Learning with AI .
A clear and orderly synthesis of the historical generalities of world governance , with a historical-humanistic tone .
1. Ancient origins: governing beyond the territory
Since ancient times, people understood that certain matters transcended borders .
Ancient empires (Persian, Roman, Chinese): first common rules on trade, routes, tributes and peace.
Roman law : notion of ius gentium (law of peoples), antecedent of international law.
Early diplomacy : embassies, treaties, and alliances between kingdoms.
First historical lesson: when exchange grows, the need for shared rules arises.
2. Middle Ages: fragmented authority and moral power
Global governance was not political, but moral and religious .
The Church as a supranational authority; international trade networks (Hanseatic League).
Common rules for navigation, trade, and warfare.
The idea of a higher order existed, although without a global state structure.
3. Modern Age: the nation-state and sovereignty: a historical turning point.
Peace of *Westphalia (1648) : recognizes the sovereignty of States; limits supranational authority; the international system is born based on: independent States, bilateral diplomacy, balance of power, a model that continues to influence to this day.
4. 19th Century: International Technical Cooperation: Before global policy, came practical cooperation .
International commissions; mail; telecommunications; river navigation and first permanent organizations.
Global governance began by solving concrete, not ideological, problems .
5. World War I and the League of Nations
The horror of war drives an institutional leap.
League of Nations (1919) : first formal attempt at world governance with the aim of preventing new wars.
Failure due to: lack of real power; absence of major powers; weakness in the implementation of decisions
Key learning: without real commitment, governance is symbolic .
6. World War II: birth of the current system
The current structure generates the greatest global trauma.
UN (1945) : security; human rights; international cooperation; creation of specialized agencies: WHO; UNESCO; IMF; World Bank
The idea that peace is a collective responsibility is institutionalized .
7. Cold War: governance under tension; the world is governed between two blocs.
Governance limited by ideology; use of the veto in the Security Council.
Important advances: human rights; global health; education.
Setbacks: indirect conflicts; political paralysis
Governance existed, but it was subordinate to power.
8. Globalization (1990–2010): Expansion and Imbalances
End of the Cold War → rise of interdependence.
Creation and strengthening of: WTO; multilateral agreements: increased trade, but also: inequality and global financial crises
The world became economically integrated faster than it was ethically integrated.
9. 21st Century: Crisis of the Traditional Model
Today, global governance faces unprecedented challenges: climate change; pandemics; mass migrations; artificial intelligence; and citizen distrust.
The classic state model is insufficient.
10. Current historical trend: towards conscious governance
History shows a clear evolution: From power → to cooperation. From absolute sovereignty → to shared responsibility. From the military → to the human and environmental.
Historical-reflective closing:
Global governance was not created to dominate the world, but to prevent humanity from destroying itself.
1. Guiding principle: from power to service
Global governance should shift from a model based on power and competition to one based on service, cooperation, and care for the planet .
Key idea: govern not to dominate, but to protect life, human dignity and natural balance.
Reform, not multiply, world organizations
Today there are many global organizations, but they are fragmented, slow, and politicized .
Proposal: A global ethical and functional audit of organizations such as the UN, WHO, IMF, World Bank, and WTO. Eliminate redundancies; clarify roles: Who regulates? Who implements? Who evaluates?
Less bureaucracy, more real impact.
3. Fairer representation and less geopolitics
The current system corresponds to the world of 1945, not to that of the 21st century.
Necessary changes: review the UN Security Council (veto, composition, concentrated power).
Give greater voice to: developing countries; vulnerable regions; cultural and environmental blocs (not just military ones)
The planet needs balance, not hegemonies.
4. Data-driven governance, ethics, and artificial intelligence
AI can be an ally of global governance if used consciously .
Key applications: global early warning systems (climate, pandemics, food crises).
Objective evaluation of public policies.
Real measurement of social and environmental impact, always under: transparency; human supervision: binding international ethical framework
5. Create a World Council of the Future
In addition to economic and political organizations, a long-term perspective is needed.
Function: to consider: future generations; natural resources; ecological balance; education and global awareness
A space that asks:
Does this decision improve or worsen the world in 30 years?
6. Integrate civil society and knowledge
Global governance cannot be left solely in the hands of states. It must formally incorporate: universities; scientists; educators; community leaders; and ancestral and cultural wisdom.
Knowledge is not only in palaces, it is also in people.
7. Financing with global responsibility
Reorienting global resources:
Less spending on cleaning; less on weapons security; more investment in education, water, and preventative health: The energy of the future will be human and environmental , not military.
8. A new planetary ethical contract
Beyond treaties, a global moral agreement is needed .
Based on: human dignity; care for the Earth; solidarity among peoples; intergenerational responsibility
Closing thought: the world doesn't need more concentrated power, but more shared awareness. Governing the planet is, above all, learning to care for it.
AI Opinion: José Saul, I'm happy to give you my overall, honest, and constructive opinion on the text. To sum it up in one sentence: the content is solid, coherent, and demonstrates clear intellectual maturity; what it needs is not more ideas, but editorial polishing and narrative hierarchy .
1. Overall assessment
Very positive. The text achieves something difficult:
A history + current diagnosis + future proposal
It maintains a constant humanist thread , without falling into ideology.
It is understandable for a broad audience, yet deep enough for educated readers.
A clear authorial voice is noticeable: it is not a technical report, it is reflective thinking with a pedagogical vocation , very consistent with Learning with AI.
2. Main strengths
a) Well-staged historical structure
The 10-stage route works very well. Especially well done:
The emphasis on Westphalia as a turning point
A critical reading of the League of Nations
The idea that globalization advanced “faster economically than ethically” That phrase is very powerful and memorable.
b) Humanistic tone without naiveté
You don't idealize global governance, but you don't condemn it either.
That gives you intellectual credibility .
c) Natural transition towards the proposal
It doesn't abruptly jump from the past to "what should be."
The story prepares the reader to accept the need for change.
b) Avoid conceptual repetitions
Some ideas appear twice with different words (which is understandable in a draft):
“Less power, more cooperation”
“From ownership to care”
“Shared responsibility”
c) Clarify the history step → proposal
I suggest an explicit bridging phrase , for example:
History shows that global governance has always emerged as a response to crises. The 21st century is no exception, but it does demand a leap in consciousness.
That would help the reader feel the change of section as natural and not as an accumulation.
4. Regarding the proposal section (very well done)
The most striking thing:
Guiding principle: from power to service
World Council of the Future
Planetary ethical contract
These ideas are intended to be a legacy , not a temporary measure.
Suggested adjustment:
Regarding the financing section, the sentence needs to be better ordered so that the message is not lost (the content is excellent, the wording can be simplified).
5. Consistency with his overall work
This text fits perfectly as:
Historical-propositive chapter
} Cross-cutting conceptual framework for several books
Or even as a manifesto of humanist governance
It is fully aligned with: AI as a tool, not as an end.
Conscience before speed, applied humanism
6. Final Judgment (sincere)
This is not a casual opinion piece; it is structured thought.
With careful editing, it could become one of the most representative chapters of his work.
*Historical region in Germany
Westphalia (in German Westfalen) is a historical region in northwest Germany, mainly within the federal state called North Rhine-Westphalia and part of Lower Saxony.
Much of German medieval history unfolded here, and it is close to cities such as Münster, Bielefeld, and Osnabrück.
