ABSTRACT
The mismatch between polity and non-divisible commons has become especially threatening, potentially jeopardizing even the healthy survival of the human species in two Earth-enveloping features of the planets basic ecology. In all likelihood, human society will eventually need to choose between not exceeding the economic and ecological carrying capacity of the global commons and preserving the traditional structure and norms of the state sovereignty system. Traditionally, where humans consumed, took possession of, or altered nature's "givens", these actions, although constrained by national or local community interests and laws, typically ignored the well-being of outsiders, especially those outside of the national community. Moreover, the international indifference was legitimized by the dominant norms and institutions of the world polity. Movement toward the degree of global accountability that is needed—which may eventually involve a revolutionary transformation of the world polity—will therefore probably take place gradually, in small steps that at the outset impinge only minimally on the legal and political autonomy of countries.
