In the intricate realm of international politics, the concept of anarchy has always been a fundamental component. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that world peace is now in a state of crisis as it has not been for decades, with mass violence, political instability, and the ominous specter of a second Cold War between great powers and theirgreat allies all contributing to this disquieting disruption of global tranquility.
Historical Perspective
The post-Cold War era saw the United States ascend as the lone superpower, dominating world affairs with no serious challengers. It embarked on a mission to assert its global hegemony, often with the support of its allies. Examples include the Gulf War and NATO’s actions in Eastern Europe, Yugoslavia, Somalia, and Nicaragua. However, the first decade of the 21st century witnessed the rise of new potential powers on both regional and global scales. Countries like Russia, China, India, and Brazil emerged as significant players in the international arena.
Despite these shifts in the global landscape, the United States and its allies persisted in pursuing their foreign policies. NATO’s eastward expansion to encircle Russia, military interventions in Libya, and obstructing India and Brazil’s bid for permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council were some of their initiatives. They even played a hand in engineering regime changes in secular nations like Syria, leaving the new potential powers with little say in international affairs.
These policies triggered an aggressive response, particularly from Russia, aimed at containing the growing influence of the United States and its allies. A turning point came in 2015 with Russia’s military intervention to support the government of Syria, headed by Bashar al-Assad, against U.S., NATO, and Saudi-backed rebels. The survival of the Syrian government represented a tactical defeat for the United States and its allies. Additionally, Russia’s military actions in Ukraine by 2022 effectively halted NATO’s eastward expansion.
Simultaneously, nations like Russia and China began cultivating and supporting their regional allies, exacerbating the ongoing conflicts of interest. These rivalries culminated in wars, proxy conflicts, and what is increasingly being termed a second Cold War, with mass violence riddling the international arena. Examples include the civil war in Sudan, the Yemen conflict, and the recent Israel-Palestinian hostilities.
Remedies
In the present scenario, the imperative is for states to bring an end to these conflicts of interest and restore world peace. Remedies include the cessation of undeclared hostilities between global powers, fostering conflict resolution through dialogues between states and warring parties, reevaluating past conflict-ending agreements, and devising new agreements to manage the intricacies of international issues.
Further measures entail the termination of hostilities between nations and the redistribution of power and decision-making within international political institutions. This includes granting nations such as India, Brazil, and South Africa permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council. These remedies, if earnestly embraced, hold the potential to halt the unprecedented violence in international politics and pave the way for a more harmonious world.
The article is written by Shah Abrar Hussain
