Clarence Streit

Clarence Streit (1896-1986) was an American journalist and advocate for international democracy who is best known for proposing the union of democratic nations as a path to world peace. His influential 1939 book "Union Now" called for the merger of leading democratic nations into a federal union, similar to how the United States was formed. As a New York Times correspondent covering the League of Nations during the 1930s, Streit witnessed firsthand the organization's failure to prevent the rise of totalitarianism. This experience led him to found Federal Union, Inc. (now the Association to Unite the Democracies) and dedicate his life to promoting democratic alliance between nations. Streit's ideas influenced political thinking during World War II and the early Cold War period, with his concepts partially reflected in the formation of NATO and other international alliances. His work garnered support from figures like Supreme Court Justice Owen Roberts and journalist Walter Lippmann. The Rhodes Scholar and WWI veteran continued writing and advocating for democratic union throughout his life, publishing several follow-up works including "Union Now with Britain" (1941) and "Freedom's Frontier" (1961). His proposals for world federation and democratic unity continue to be studied in discussions of international governance and peace-building initiatives.

Readers value Streit's detailed vision for democratic unity and practical proposals for implementation in "Union Now." Reviews frequently cite his foresight in predicting WWII's threats and proposing concrete solutions beyond idealistic pacifism. What readers liked: - Clear writing style that makes complex international concepts accessible - Thorough research and historical examples supporting his arguments - Practical framework for democratic cooperation that influenced NATO What readers disliked: - Some sections seen as repetitive and overly detailed - Anglo-American focus perceived as too narrow by modern readers - Limited discussion of developing nations' roles Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (12 ratings) One reader on Goodreads noted: "Streit offers a pragmatic path to peace through federation rather than empty rhetoric." Another wrote: "The technical details of monetary union and citizenship laws become tedious, but the core argument remains relevant."

Union Now (1939) Proposes a federal union between 15 major democracies as a way to prevent war and promote international cooperation.

Union Now with Britain (1941) Adapts the earlier federal union concept specifically to unite the United States and Britain during World War II.

Freedom's Frontier: Atlantic Union Now (1961) Examines the potential for a transatlantic federation in the context of Cold War politics and European integration.

Freedom Against Itself (1954) Analyzes how democratic nations sometimes work against their own interests through isolationist policies.

Freedom's Frontier: A Call to Freedom in Defense of a Free World (1940) Details strategies for democratic nations to unite against totalitarianism during the early stages of World War II.

Norman Angell wrote about international relations and advocated for global cooperation to prevent war in the early-mid 1900s. His work "The Great Illusion" explores themes of international interdependence similar to Streit's vision of democratic unity.

Barbara Wootton focused on international governance and federation between nations during the World War II era. Her writings in "Testament for Peace" and other works examine practical approaches to world organization and democratic alliance.

H.G. Wells developed concepts of world government and unified global systems in both his non-fiction and fiction works. His book "The New World Order" addresses international cooperation themes that parallel Streit's ideas about democratic federation.

Lionel Curtis wrote extensively about imperial federation and international organization in the early 20th century. His work "Civitas Dei" examines the development of world government through historical analysis.

Emery Reves analyzed international relations and promoted democratic world federation in the 1940s. His book "The Anatomy of Peace" discusses the need for supranational governance structures to maintain peace.