The Society of Peoples: A Union of Well-Ordered Societies?

Abstract

Rawls uses the term ‘Society of Peoples’ more than a hundred times in his monograph without providing a detailed account of what it might look in practice. As Rawls leaves this question more or less open, it could be argued that a clearer sketch of the Society of Peoples is not essential for understanding his theory. It may be merely a way to refer to ‘all those peoples who follow the ideals and principles of the Law of Peoples in their mutual relations’ (LP, 3). So why is it worth pursuing this matter? In fact, the Society of Peoples within Rawls’ theory serves as a focus for the establishment of peaceful, stable and just relations between peoples, uniting well-ordered societies under the Law of Peoples. It is therefore crucial to his project. The Society of Peoples may constitute an international institution promoting peace, justice and stability in the international order. It might be an instantiation of Kant’s pacific union, only that it covers liberal and decent regimes rather than republics, extending to more and more regimes over time, thus enlarging the zone of peace. Even beyond LP, the sketch of a Society of Peoples links to a broader discussion on the legitimacy and performance of international institutions and the United Nations (UN) and of whether further institutions are needed, especially referring to the League of Democracies.