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Judge Ralston has undertaken to study international law as a system of ordered relationships among States, and arrives at the conclusion that the present framework of national sovereignties is not adapted to peace and progress. He suggests as a possible alternative an international federation not unlike the League of Nations, or (better) the proposed Federal Union advocated by Clarence Streit.

His reasoning stems from the observation that there is no such thing as a State. "Who created that imaginary thing called the State, and endowed it with a mythical sovereignty and independence? MEN. Whose ambitions and avarice have led to war? MEN'S. Who are responsible for the inequalities in opportunity which lead to war? MEN. Who created war and the infinitely silly laws of war? MEN. Who hamper commerce and the movement of populations? MEN. Who is responsible for all the misery a spurious International Law has brought upon the world? MEN. Who can rescue mankind from the evils mankind has itself created? MEN."

Since there is no such thing as a State, it follows that no world progress can result as long as we maintain our artificial national boundaries. Judge Ralston does not indeed go this far in his recommendations; but he does emphasize the need for applying in world affairs the same standards as we use among ourselves. His chapters on "War" and "Laws of War" are highly thought-provoking.

"A Quest For International Order" is a challenging attempt to analyze world affairs in the light of Georgist principles.