The Functional Approach in Historical Perspective*

Abstract

'A T no period in history has human capacity for political creation been subjected to such contin ous unremitting strain.' The new inventions and discoveries ' have rendered traditional ideas of what politics is about almost as obsolete as astrology and alchemy. In this unique historical context, if we are to win through, a supreme effort of political creativity is needed'.The whole of human society now is stirred and shaken by a threefold revolution-a political upheaval, a social surge and a scientific eruption which is moving beyond man's foresight and control. If these new forces are not to overwhelm the world, the world must learn how to bring them under common control. And for that, all the old political devices, from the Roman forum to the Russian soviet, from city-states to federations, would prove useless. The situation is unique, unlike any other period or experience in history, in that the impact and repercussions of these revolutionary forces are felt across the whole universe. No country and no region can insulate itself against their effect. ' With satellites and space travel we have in truth reached the no man's land of sovereignty.' 2 These problems are global, and so must be the answers. While generally the sphere of politics had solidified over the years, its international sector was left to stagger along through the centuries without any common sense or common authority. We can do so no longer-that is our historical problem. Yet the very need to make good the deficiency means that past ways and means are of little help. Any assessment of the task has to begin with a simple but absolute proposition: that the whole of the traditional view of politics, as based upon and working through power, is dead. The ultimate test of power is force and its use: when that has come to mean nuclear force, uncontrollable in its