Guidelines for the formation of an organized, effective, and influential humanitarian movement

Preamble

The members of Synthesis determine…

To expand the jurisdiction of human rights to encompass significant enforcement power wielded by a supranational authority with political and military rights to protect human populations from scourges committed by actors sovereign or otherwise.

To affirm the necessity for this document to found a common agreement between members of Synthesis upon the definition of Neoism, it’s aims, and the path to its implementation.

To promote the interests of humanitarian institutions and organizations as custodians of a new supranational authority rendering judgments on the collective condition of humanity and the provisions for its survival and prosperity.

To, by nature of the installation of a supranational authority, bring an end to impunity for humans collectively and end the international anarchy that has crippled our ability to progress by outsourcing human development to inherently selfish actors and self-interested governments.

To, by nature of this anarchy, effectively regulate the international system and if necessary govern it in order to affirm fundamental human security and dispense a new brand of humanitarian justice.

 

And for these ends…

Accordingly, our respective members have agreed to present the manifesto of Synthesis do hereby advocate the establishment of a supranational organization to be known as the Planetary Directive to be drawn from the world’s citizens in order to collectively defend human interest.

To facilitate this aim, this manifesto offers provisions for the formation of a revolutionary and efficient humanitarian movement to be run by a central organization acting as the vanguard for its collective interest.

 

Chapter 1

Article 1

The purposes of the foundation of a supranational authority are…

To forge a new international order that is capable of serving humanity in its collective definition.

To develop friendly and cooperative relations between political, non-state, and economic actors.

To defend civilian rights, innocent life, and to punish perpetrators of mass atrocities through all means necessary.

To harmonize NGOs and humanitarian organizations in the quest of the establishment of an organization capable of rendering judgment in the interests of humanistic virtues. 

 

Article 2

The organization of Synthesis and its adherents, in respect to the objectives stated in the previous articles, shall act in accordance with the following precepts...

Synthesis and its established institutions are based on the primordial necessity to defend human life and ensure that actors rule in accordance with the sanctity of human existence. To adapt itself to this, the movement is hierarchically organized to render efficient judgments and manifest swift enforcement of its political agendas.

All members of Synthesis, regardless of rank, must act in accordance with this document. There are none and can be no alternative interpretation of Synthesis’s mandate and no bending of its principles to accommodate party interest.

If Synthesis or any of its affiliates, through intrigue or by other means, become corrosive to their  own ends, it is the duty of all Neoists and humanitarians to bring about its swift and uncompromising dismemberment, and rebuild it minus the flaws that necessitated its overthrow. 

The sovereignty of states will not prejudice Synthesis nor the supranational authority it founds from intervening in domestic situations that it, in accordance with the standards outlined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, deems a threat to fundamental human security and international order.  

Members must announce an active loyalty to humanitarian precepts and documents and adopt a loyalty to the humanitarian and internationalist ethos that transcends nationality.

 

 

Chapter 2

Governing Ideals…

Article 3

Synthesis and its affiliates recognize the 7 Convictions as the foundation for its interactions and decisions. Moreover, it recognizes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the standard for which it will base its enforcement of adherence to human dignity. Specifically, Synthesis affirms Article 28, the right of all humans to a social and international order, as the mandate for the organization's existence.

 

Article 4

Membership of Synthesis and its established organizations are open to all parties who are willing to become signatory to the manifesto and propagators of humanitarian virtues.

 

Article 5

Neoism is recognized by all members of Synthesis to constitute the following definition:

A worldview, vision, and path to implementation for the unprejudiced representation of humanity and human security by a body of planetary citizens drawn from humanistic organizations and social units that are organized for effective united action toward the objective of establishing a supranational authority. Upon the accomplishment of this, Synthesis and affiliated organizations seek to found a wider sphere of governance resulting in a comprehensive human unity.

 

Article 6

Neoism’s technical term is “Supranational Humanitarianism.” This is to be adopted in the true definition of supranational, supranational meaning the transcendence of government power rather than the indulgence of it (as opposed to international organizations), and humanitarian meaning the will to unite and engage the humanitarian community to give rise to this supranational authority. 

 

Chapter 3

Organs...

Article 7

There, as the principle categories of a new humanitarian movement, are to be established three tiers of interaction: The Executive, the Organizational Councils, and Membership/Advocacy assemblies. Each organ of Synthesis has these three levels of interaction.

 

Article 8

Synthesis is consistent of  7 primary organs each with broad goals in developing the movement. They are as follows: Leadership branch, Economics branch, NGO/Civil Society branch, Society & Development branch, Public Relations branch, Ideology and Information branch, Membership and Recruitment branch.

  

Chapter 4

Institutional Roles and Procedures...

Article 9

Leadership Branch

The leadership branch is led by the Custodian who is responsible de facto and de jure leader of the humanitarian movement. The Custodian’s powers involve the appointment of new officials, the ratification of newly created organizations within the structure of Synthesis, the authority to coordinate the other 7 departments in initiatives decided by the movement as a whole.

Below the Custodian functions a diplomatic corps of envoys who are dispatched to ensure that all organs of Synthesis work in sync with one and other. They are directed by the Custodian and his cabinet. Within the diplomatic corps, delegates are divided into categories of specialty and are dispatched accordingly. In doing so, the diplomatic corps act as shadow-officials for other departments. In addition to this, from the diplomatic corps, the Custodian may appoint and consult the officials there as advisors.

Below the diplomatic corps functions other agents of the Custodian, appointed as necessary, and in the membership assemblies for the Custodian’s department consists of every member of the humanitarian movement regardless of rank. This is necessary so the entire movement gets a say in choosing its leader.

The Custodian is elected for an indefinite term and can be ejected from the position by a negative judgment by independent commissions (outlined later) who’s decisions to dismiss the Custodian must be ratified by the membership base.

As made mention the Custodian is elected by the entire movement. Because of this the second tier, the diplomatic corps, are appointed by the Custodian. This is in contrast to the other 6 departments who’s executive leaders are elected by the second tier while the second tier is appointed by the third.  

 

Article 10

Economics Branch

The economics branch is led by the Chancellor who is responsible for the engagement of businesses and, along with the Custodian, is co-manager of the humanitarian movement’s funds. Set budgets are agreed on for each department at the monthly meetings of the leaders of the 7 departments. The Chancellor is primarily in charge of distributing these funds, that are centralized in his hands when they first arrive at the Executive, as well as producing transparent reports of how the money is spent. When the budgets have been allocated, the remnants go into public coffers of which the Custodian and Chancellor have control over but the allocation of these funds are decided by the movement comprehensively

Below the Chancellor functions a host of businesses that have signed onto Synthesis. These businesses can be called on by the Chancellor to implement certain programs in keeping with contracts signed and agreed before economic entities became signatory to Synthesis programs. Also under the second tier of the economics branch, and vested in the Chancellor’s charge, are the economic initiatives undertaken and developed by members with the aid of Synthesis funds.

Under the economic councils functions a host of other businesses that are part of Synthesis yet not signatory to any economic programs or allowed to advance to the council by popular vote. Included in this tier are financial analysts, accountants, and advisors as appointed by the Chancellor and others officials within the economic branch. New members who are interested in pursuing a career of social entrepreneurship and humanitarian economics also constitute this level.

One of the major responsibilities of the economics organ as a whole is the judicious use and investment of money acquired by Synthesis through duties paid by civil society. Rather that this being viewed as taxation for the services and running of the movement, it is instead a long-term investment from which organizations should expect a substantial return.

The Chancellor is elected by the second tier -  the business councils - who are in turn elected by the third tier – the broad economic membership base. Elections within the economic branch are held every 5 years. 

 

Article 11

NGOs/Civil Society Branch

The civil society branch is led by the Advocate who is empowered to give civil society, the vehicle of humanitarian change, a voice in the 7 departments. The Advocate’s role is to recruit NGOs into Global Equinox Agenda and ensure their contribution to the humanitarian framework as a whole. Once recruited, signatory organizations are expected to pay duties which are relayed to the other 7 departments which use the capital to advocate the movement’s broad aims and invest in money-making initiatives. In this sense, the Advocate is to ensure that money flows out of the signatory NGOs as it is needed and then the same amount and more flows back into the NGOs to give them a return on their investment while enabling them to expand their operations. The Advocate is also expected to act as an impartial settler of disputes within Global Equinox while relaying and coordinating strategies for getting civil society organized.

Under the Advocate functions the Global Equinox Agenda which empowers NGOs by giving them a unified front with synergized funding for organized and effective action. GEA functions on a three tier structure of its own which are appointed by NGOs within the GEA. This is necessary so the Advocate does not become the sole face of civil society and marginalize the entities that make the entire humanitarian movement possible. The GEA must function as democratically as possible, a democracy which must be based on the equality of those organizations which sign on. The Advocate exists to give decisiveness to the resources contributed and act as civil society’s representative in the executive as well as mobilizing the GEA collectively behind decisions reached in the 7 departments.

Under the GEA functions the pool of organizations that can be or are in the process of being recruited into the Global Equinox Agenda and those NGOs that do not wish to participate in the Global Equinox programs, but are supportive of the broad aims of the humanitarian movement and wish to help it reach its goals. This level also comprises the individual members and advocates of the GEA.

Upon the establishment of 3 distinct spheres, the broad civil society Synthesis membership (the third tier)  ratifies organizational advancements to the GEA program and the GEA, in turn, elects the Advocate. Elections are held for the Advocate every 5 years and elections for the second tier are held as needed.

 

Article 12

Society and Development Branch

The Society and Development branch is led by the Civic who is charged with convening local clubs and humanitarian assemblies to project the aims of Synthesis in local communities. The Civic is also in charge of making sure that responsibilities are outsourced to domestic actors such as political parties, social movements, and other humanitarian interest groups as well as to ensure that  the domestic sphere is lockstep behind the idea of a supranational agency. The Civic is also in charge of running and appointing officials to run the humanitarian assemblies and clubs as well as the allocation of collective funds to these social entities.

Under the Civic the 7th Legion functions as a conglomeration  of social organizations that lobby domestically for humanitarian agendas and participate in local power structures advocating the solidarity and development of human communities. These organizations together form protest groups to lobby governments into recognizing and if possible to actively participate in forming an  independent supranational vanguard of human rights.    

Under the organizations encompassed in the 7th Legion exists humanitarian assemblies and clubs that are convened on an unofficial basis to create platforms for real social and political change at the heart of  human communities. These are essentially forums with no direct objective other than the lively debate and development of ideas by citizens who have come to the conclusion that direct participation in the political process by the masses must be manifested in social organization and mechanisms through which to express the popular will.

The Civic appoints, forms and recruits organizations to engage and lobby specific societies and governments. Once these organizations are nominated, they must be ratified by the third tier before being inducted into the 7th Legion. From there, the 7th Legion elects the Civic for an indefinite term which lasts as long as the Civic maintains support amongst the entities in the 7th Legion.

 

Article 13   

Public Relations Branch

The public relations branch is led by the Director who is in charge of media advocacy campaigns and ensuring the interactivity of the humanitarian movement. The Director concerns themselves with production and distribution of advocacy materials including art, posters, movies, and other such mediums that can create spirit and legitimacy for the movement as a whole.  

Under the Director functions a plethora of creative staff intended to implement the decisions reached by the Director and other officials. In this tier may also function media and production companies and ventures initiated by Synthesis. In addition to this, pollsters work on gathering data throughout every organ of the movement to detect prevailing trends and opinions so Synthesis may become a better embodiment of the movement its members want it to be. 

The third tier of the PR department consists of the segment of the membership base that chooses to participate within the media sphere by undertaking promotional projects and independent initiatives that can have partial or complete funding from the movement.

Elections for the PR branch take place every 5 years within the conventional procedure of the third tier electing the second and the second electing the first.

 

Article 14

Ideology & Information Branch

Led by the Executor, the ideology and information branch concerns itself with the gathering and analysis of data both factual and theoretical for the improvement of the movement and ideology. The Executor directs these efforts in an attempt to gather data on human rights abuses, reporting on various aspects that concern the movement, and debating the philosophical and ideological development of supranational humanitarianism.

The second tier of the Ideology and Information branch  has academic guilds for the improvement and debate of policy and ideology and special reporters that issue various reports and seek out information so leaders can make informed decisions and members stay aware of the changing political, economic, and social realities going on around them. These reports are sent to the PR branch to be converted for mass consumption and to the leadership in order to facilitate the validity of policy by making sure all concerned are aware of the facts.

The third tier consists of informal debate gatherings at the grassroots level and freelance reporters who undertake unofficial projects in order to ensure a rich flow of information and culture both in and out of the movement.

Elections for the information and ideology branch occur every five years within the conventional bottom-up electoral model.

 

Article 15

Membership and Recruitment Branch

The membership and recruitment branch answers to the Commissioner who’s role it is to coordinate with the PR department for effective recruitment strategies and the wide distribution of promotional materials. The Commissioner is also responsible for membership affairs including settling internal disputes, convening committees for specialized tasks, and the general administration of human resources including ensuring that members are working in the fields most suited to their talents. The Commissioner is also charged with maintaining political and social networks that are not necessarily part of Synthesis, but can all the same serve the interests of the movement.

The second tier of the Membership and Recruitment Branch consists of a network of specialized recruiters who are trained to induct different entities into Synthesis. For example they’d be a specialized recruiter for businesses, NGOs, educational institutions, and so forth. Each are expected to liaise with their respective representatives within the 7 departments.

The third tier consists of general recruiters who have no specific focus, but mostly recruit individuals and organize events to promote Synthesis and its work. These recruiters are expected to interface with each other and, where feasible, they receive incentives when they reach a certain threshold of members that they have recruited.

Elections for the Membership and Recruitment Branch occur every 5 years within the conventional bottom-up electoral model.

 

Article 16

Oversight Committees

The oversight committees function outside the traditional framework of Synthesis in order to provide impartial judgments on discourses that happen within it. These oversight committees mostly concern themselves with elections and ensuring the strict enforcement of electoral regulation whilst also ensuring a balance between popularity as dictated by the voters and professional competencies. In the interest of ensuring this, the oversight committees retain the right to nullify elections when they are confident that ability is lacking. They hold the right to do this throughout the term of office and when a 2/3s majority is reached, the official may be dismissed. Any majority below this fraction a warning is issued and a specialized professional commission formed to monitor the official in question closely.

These bodies are essential, impartial guardians of the political process within Synthesis.

 

Article 17

The Network 

What has been henceforth described forms the core of the humanitarian movement. Outside the core, may function a plethora of different organizations with diverse aims and convictions that are allied and affiliated with Synthesis but may not be called upon by the executive (the 7 departments) to bindingly enact any agenda. These networks are beneficial building blocks for a future congress of all entities, large and small, who affirm, agree with, and actively advocate the fundamentals of human rights. This future congress is an important milestone in the development of a humanitarian movement because it presents a unified front for a newly invigorated pact between all humanitarians. Synthesis must project the image of a cooperative haven for all those who are disgruntled with conventional politics but maintain a loyalty to human rights in their purest form and the idea of a coordinated and organized network enables the humanitarian movement to do this.

 

Chapter 5

Guiding principles... 

Article 18

Emergence from Self-Ignorance

a. The basic assumption that humanity’s discovery of itself has been the driving force of its development due to potential utility of different lands, cultures, and ideas for the progression of our species as a whole.

b. That this process has been in the past defined by discovery of new lands and connection of new peoples and has since evolved from discovery to integration. This process is evident in the formation of a universal system of national states, globalization, and international organizations.

c. That humanity’s current state of prosperity (unprecedented in history) has been accelerated and solidified by international organizations and other mechanisms connecting peoples.

d. That this process should continue into the spheres of supranational governance by humanity in the interests of humanity to accelerate progressive development and banish the remnants of self-ignorance in our communities.

e. That this has been defined by a political evolutionary process which should be accelerated through revolution (rapid change) to timely facilitate the development of societies. 

 

Article 20

Social Connection

a. To create platforms domestically which are invigorated internationally to give rise to a strong humanitarian movement capable of founding and sustaining a supranational authority.

b. To create truly consensual societies through the reintroduction of direct democracy for certain spheres of politics and to ensure the greater participation of citizenry in public life.

c. Not to abolish governments, but to evolve their societies in such a way that steadily negates the need for governments in order to give rise to an organic social community that is capable of governing itself  by confiding in ideals that are not innate in one’s culture or ethnicity, but in the means and modes through which governance takes place and the best way to organize society so it can function effectively.

 

Article 21

Organization of Civil Society

a. To create a platform through which provisions can be built for the establishment of a vanguard of human rights by means of empowering and organizing NGOs and other formations making up civil society.

b. To create a vehicle of implementation for a supranational authority.

 

Article 22

Universal Human Interest

a. The idea that humanity is of one interest and the division of that  interest is the sole cause of social and political maladies. More corrosive still is the fact that no institution exists to represent and govern the holistic human interest of survival as a species.

 

Article 23

International Anarchy

a. The idea that there is no higher actor than that of the national state and that the formation of such an actor is only logical in the interests of subsidiarity.  

b. That the anarchic international system has brought an unproductive chaos to politics that must be tamed if we are to advance as a species.

 

 Article 24

 Protection of Sovereignty

a. The most compelling argument against the formation of a supranational regulator has been the argument of sovereignty.

b. Sovereignty in an anarchic international system is not served by maintaining anarchy in which the powerful are given practical license to nullify it whenever they choose.

c. The formation of a supranational power will negate the need for “world policemen” antagonizing the world through confusing state-power with humanitarian morality.

d. The introduction of a supranational authority will ensure greater equality between states so as to make them truly sovereign.

 

Article 25

Territory to People

a. The unified humanitarian movement aspires that a new paradigm of territory be adopted by  political proponents. During its course to power, the humanitarian movement nor the supranational organization it founds will take direct governance of territory.

b. The idea is the creation of nations within nations (that is to empower communities within national states confiding in humanitarian ideals) to make subversive attacks in the name of nationalism more difficult to conduct.

c. For Synthesis, the humanitarian movement and civil society is its nation and its most important lifeblood.

It is only natural that national states eventually adopt this view of humanity being more important than territory because:

e. Most national states have risen at the expense of empires that possessed extensive territory and placed considerable emphasis on it.

f. Spheres of influence built by inter-personal communication are more important nowadays than extensive land possession.

g. Synthesis intends to pursue the course of establishing a governance and a movement that functions on the basis of its human resources rather than partaking in extensive territorial and material governance.

 

Article 26

Democratic Centralism

a. This doctrine of organizational relations is a crucial aspect of the movement as a whole and implicit in its final success.

b. Democratic Centralism allows for decisiveness with consent by centralizing power in the hands of specialized departments but allowing those departments to be appointed by bottom-up popular will.

c. A centralist structure is necessary for the decisiveness of leadership that a young movement needs. This doctrine will evolve as the movement evolves to give rise to more consensual structures.

d. As the movement develops a more complex system of checks and balances will need to be employed.

 

Chapter 6

Conclusion: Clarion Call

Humanitarians and human rights advocates must consolidate into a grand movement if they want to see the ideals that they stand for enacted before their eyes. This cannot afford to wait. This goal cannot be pursued with moderation or laxness. Organization, decisiveness, and centrality are key to the victory of human rights over tyranny and injustice and until the proponents of human rights realize this, they will be condemned to roam the vast wasteland of barbarity isolated, emasculated, and alone.  

Synthesis wishes to  see humanitarians unite in order to make the necessary changes to the international system in a cogent movement of wise leaders and committed members enforcing a principled and logical manifesto of change. Human rights needs action and the longer we delay, the harder humanity will pay.

       

Manifesto drafted on 7th October 2008. Last updated on 10th June 2009.