By Sardar Khan Niazi
Much of the current worldwide discontent is the result of political leaders that offer inadequate answers to their policies. The world is on the verge of moral, political, and material ruin. Reportedly, corruption dominates all the governing bodies. The people are demoralized.
Today’s world stands bruised by the unrestrained behavior of leaders. The greater challenges the world faces, the greater responsibility the leaders have to lead the world out of turbulence, and the greater necessity for them to work together.
The world economy has yet to recover from the shocks of the pandemic and is getting worse by the Ukraine crisis and its spillover effects. Potential economic, refugee, food, financial, and energy crises loom over the horizon due to escalating tensions.
Global political developments indicate a reinforcement of the downward pressure on economic growth instead of acting as triggers to address weak growth to a sufficient extent.
The most important contemporary issue is how to develop high economic growth, a more equitable division of prosperity, and the protection of the earth so that future generations will also be able to lead good lives.
In order to achieve stability in the world, countries especially big powers should work together for common development, and flexibility and liveliness should guide their relations.
Frequent contact between the leaders, close coordination on major international and regional issues, and fruitful cooperation across the board can help achieve that goal.
Such an approach can lead to robust economic growth and trade. The leaders may not always see eye to eye with each other however, their differences should not undermine cooperation for peace and stability in a turbulent and fluid world.
Countries should be comprehensive strategic partners rather than complete rivals. This is the fundamental rule that they need to follow. Their cooperation should outweigh differences and competition from a strategic and long-term perspective, and they should adopt a positive and pragmatic policy.
Amidst crises such as global warming and political turmoil, the Ukraine war has pushed the threat of nuclear destruction back onto the front pages and into our collective consciousness.
Building iron curtains, erecting walls of mistrust, and exaggerating rhetoric go against the trend of history and cannot lead to peace and stability. As an alternative, a new vision featuring common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security is the need of time to achieve security for all.
Dialogue and partnership should replace confrontation and alliance. One country’s security should not come at the expense of that of others. That is the way to attain sustained security.
The countries need to maintain communication and coordination with each other and continue playing a constructive role together with all parties concerned in resolving the crisis and restoring peace.
From developing nations to rich countries, everyone is facing economic problems. Even in days of increased prosperity, not everyone benefits in equal measure. Rights get affected and the political elites enrich themselves.
We have not been able to make democratic systems more rewarding for the masses in order to prevent the collapse of the entire system. Inequality has spun out of control. When the elites become too powerful, it paves the way to despotism that silences or coerces differing voices.
It is important to steer a middle course. With the elite seated securely enough to facilitate the proper functioning of the institutions of the democratic system, but not to the extent where corruption prevails.
At the same time, society as a whole should benefit sufficiently from prosperity growth and be sure in the knowledge that it can call the elite to account when necessary. Thanks to the internet and other modern technology, these days the forms of corruption at the top are distinctly more visible.
