With the war in Ukraine entering its fourth year, the world is again reminded that, despite humanity’s enormous advances in material terms, the collective consciousness has not advanced much beyond the worst chapters of history. Despite all the attempts to establish a rules-based order through institutions like the United Nations, it is very much possible for the Genghis Khans of today to do as they wish and inflict pain on others just because they have the means to do so.
As long as nations exist, there will be an imbalance of power amongst them. Nations exist because history shaped their evolution, often because of victories and defeats in war. However, there is also the logic of cultural, economic and natural cohesion. There can be and are issues that have not been reconciled, preventing a natural balance that allows co-existence. This is why those who understand the imperatives of a global approach point out the limitations of nationalism. For instance, environmental challenges are not limited by national boundaries. Problems like global warming and extinction of species are a threat to all communities and nations. Droughts and floods in one part of the world eventually have an impact on other parts over a period of time.
Russia’s claims on Ukrainian territory are a hangover from the Soviet Union era, as the likes of Putin have not reconciled to the loss of territory that is ‘historically theirs’. Despite all the concessions given by the European Union and NATO, present day Russia feels ‘threatened’. This is not because it lacks the means to defend itself. It is because of the fear that people may succumb to the lure of better, more just, political systems. It is the same with China, which wants its people to abide by a single political ideology and conducts its foreign policy to safeguard this internal order. The consequence – claims on territories that are a part of India due to numerous factors.
These nations are led by basically dictators because their political systems do not have effective checks and balances. Even a supposedly mature democracy like the US is having problems with containing the ambitions of a wannabe dictator. One can only imagine the plight of smaller nations on the margins of the world economy that have to contend with conflicts generated by similar ambitions.
This is the major challenge the world faces and the solution can come only from the more civilised nations coming together and renegotiating the world order, at least among themselves. Perhaps the better alternative will persuade others to join.
