Governments

World Governments

The world is governed by nations. Due to an immense diversity of cultures, ideologies, and languages, people are reluctant to cede the authority of their nation to international or multinational bodies. Further, nations which have in themselves a relatively heterogeneous and diverse population tend to have many governmental responsibilities handled by local and provincial governments.

Among nations, hundreds of organizations have been created for mutual defense, trade, and cultural purposes. These most often have limited authority and do not infringe on the sovereignty of member nations. Of these organizations, the United Nations is perhaps the most ominous in both extent and membership; only a handful of countries are not members. It is perhaps the closest thing we have to a world government, but it also is rather limited in its authority and almost always acts only when it has a high level of consensus among its members.

World governments include:

• National Governments (see also Nations and Territories)
• International Organizations

Concept of Subgovernments

Note: explore also the meaning of this legal term in the American Ecyclopedia of Law.