SUMMARY
When we examine Wagar 's proposition that a universal world-state might, ultimately, devolve the world-state's sovereignty upon its constituent communities,two questions come to mind. First, it seems natural to ask whether or not a particularist nation-statemight not do the same; that is to say, is a world-statea prerequisite for the devolution of state power? Second, and more basically, one may question whether it is likely or even possible that a state would devolve its sovereignty upon its constituents; we know that states have given up sovereignty in order to gain the advantages of membership in larger entities, but have the rulers of a state ever given up state power in favor of lower levels of organization?