RADFORD -- Philosophy professor and peace studies program chair Glen Martin has traveled the globe lecturing and actively working toward the establishment of a democratic world government. Most recently, he was in Lucknow, India, inaugurating a seminar on Democratic World Order, organized at City Montessori School’s Kanpur Road branch, part of the school’s World Unity and Peace Education Department.

His most recent book, Ascent to Freedom: Practical and Philosophical Foundations of Democratic World Law, published by the Institute for Economic Democracy Press (2008), outlines a plan for a transformed world order.

The book pulls together research by Martin (pictured at right) and many other scholars and activists who believe there are realistic solutions for current world crises such as militarism, global warming, overpopulation, economic hardship, and more. Martin says that through the fulfillment of the promise of democracy in a non-military democratic federation at the planetary level, these problems can be resolved in a peaceful manner and in a way that will result in prosperity for all populations. He says the book “traces the concept of democratic law from ancient times to the present and examines the best contemporary thought concerning law and democracy.”

Sixteen pages of signatures from supporters of The Constitution for the Federation of Earth, originally ratified at the second session of the World Constituent Assembly held in Austria in 1977, are included in the book.

Martin is president of International Philosophers for Peace, Secretary General of the World Constitution and Parliament Association, and President and Treasurer of the Institute on World Problems. He is the author of From Nietzsche to Wittgenstein: The Problem of Truth and Nihilism in the Modern World, Millennium Dawn: The Philosophy of Planetary Crisis and Human Liberation and World Revolution through World Law: Basic Documents of the Emerging Earth Federation.

In March, Martin traveled to Thailand to receive an Award of Excellence in the Work of Peace from the Office of the World Peace Envoy. He was given a portrait of himself, drawn by a south Indian artist, with the inscription “Greatest peace activist of our time.”

Martin strongly advocates protecting children’s rights and working with a common goal of securing a sound future for coming generations. He stresses the importance of strengthening the International Court of Justice and believes all cultures and nationalities should be represented fairly in decisions that impact social, economical and educational aspects of the world.