Understanding the global crisis in 2017 begins with a look into the past.
Although democracy was partially introduced by the Greeks (partial as women and the poor were excluded from voting), it gained importance through the Magna Carta. Before the advent of democracy, the world was dominated by Kings, Emperors, and Caesars, and tyrants have ruled since time immemorial.
What distinguishes our current situation?
There has been a gradual decline in the influence of religion, which once served as a counterbalance to royal authority. Christianity instilled essential values and promoted education to uplift the poor. Although wars have always existed, they were accompanied by significant costs. Kings would impose taxes on their subjects to finance armies for invading neighboring lands.
How does this relate to our modern circumstances?
Democratic nations can no longer bear the financial burden of warfare—money and profit have become the foremost powers in the world.
Capitalism has supplanted both democracy and religion.
A prevailing sense of fear and uncertainty exists worldwide, fueled by the emergence of a new President in the US and a dominant leader in Russia. The ramifications of Brexit loom over Europe, while ISIS in the Middle East generates revenue through oil and kidnapping.
Today, money holds sway over the world more than any monarch or ruler ever could. Under Trump’s leadership, the US is expected to adopt an isolationist stance, while Russia, despite its threats, lacks the economic strength to pose a serious challenge to the USA. If ISIS’s monetary resources are depleted, the group is likely to diminish.
Future threats are anticipated from China and Korea. While Korea is seen as a perilous yet unprofitable entity, China is rapidly ascending as one of Asia’s wealthiest nations. Thus, it is crucial for genuine democracies to forge alliances. The USA needs to move beyond its patterns of deceit and embrace transparency, while Russia must rebuild trust with Western democracies, as was seen during World War II when they collaborated to defeat the Nazis. Regrettably, the lure of money and profits has regressed them back into tyranny.
With Brexit in mind, the UK must commit to defending its European allies. The significance of 2017 hinges on the UN’s ability to wield its power effectively rather than remaining ineffective.
Prudent collaboration among superpowers, coupled with the acknowledgment that money governs the world, could indeed prove effective—provided it is employed charitably, aiding those in need rather than enriching the affluent and instigating wars.
The twenty-first century holds the potential for a renaissance of democracy.
by Professor P.T. Brown
