“What I Would Do With the World X”

1931 Lowes, G[oldsworth] Dickinson (1862-1932). “What I Would Do With the World X.” The Listener 6.153 (December 30, 1931): 1048-1049. 

The tenth in a series responding to H. G. Wells’s question: What would he do if he was Dictator of the world for the next twenty years and had the power to bring about change? Disagrees with most of the others. Permanent peace through a world government and disbanding the military of all nations but leaving police to keep internal order. The world government would have an air force to put down rebellion. World currency. Abolition of poverty through the equitable distribution of the world’s wealth. Socialism through boards that would oversee specific areas not the state. Strong opposition to racism but concerned that some countries with limited land are becoming overcrowded; he instances Japan. He is worried about what happens at the end of his dictatorship, so will make it compulsory for the press “to insert the truth about all facts of political importance” (1049). The press and broadcasting are the most powerful means of education and must reflect what is happening “fairly, impartially and competently” (1021). Scientists must learn from the humanities and humanists from the sciences. The author was a lecturer in Political Science at Cambridge University from 1886-1920.