This book is an exercise in institutional imagination, but not in institutional speculation, and not, I hope, in idealism. The goal is to challenge a statedominated understanding of global society, but not to ignore the continuing importance of the state as the central structure of government for many years to come. Moreover, the goal is to examine real international issues, and realistically evaluate the actual and incipient needs for international law and organization, rather than to speculate about those needs. Finally, this book gives politics its due, by recognizing that, although increased welfare is an important vector in determining international cooperation, most international cooperation must be mediated through national political systems.