Especially the first objection has been repeated ever since, but more recent interpretations have questioned its legitimacy (Kleingeld 2004, 2012), arguing that Kant can also be read as advocating the loose league as a first step on the road toward a federation with coercive powers. Because joining this stronger form of federation should be a voluntary decision on the part of the peoples involved, to honor their political autonomy, the strong federation is not a matter of coercive international right. On this interpretation, Kant’s defense of the loose league is much more consistent. 