ABSTRACT
The structure and function of a UN Second Assembly will undoubtedly change over time, as the history of the English House of Commons and the European Parliament indicates. As the principles of federalism and subsidiarity indicate and the peace and environment movements demonstrate, the broader the local participation, the greater the influence of these movements – nationally and internationally. The proposed UN Second Assembly, which could be authorized under the UN Charter’s Article 22, could be effectively implemented through a system of community coordinating councils consisting of representatives of the local branches of non-governmental organizations (NGO) and community-based organizations. The Swedish People’s Parliament, which led to a Nordic People’s Parliament and could culminate in a ‘world parliament’ of NGOs parallel to the UN, was inspiring. Thus, the alternative to representation in the UN Second Assembly through direct election delegations similar to the Scandinavian experiments.
