Daily Times

1945, United Nations was created to foster peace and development by enhancing cooperation and mutual trust. End of World War-II and decisive victory of allied forces and countries gave a hope of a prosper future. It was assumed that world has turned to be mature enough to stop fighting and learned to cooperate. However, the dream could not stay long. The world’s leading countries started to find new pitches of difference and fight. Competing economic interests gave impetus to find new means to undermine each other. A race for supremacy took shape between USA and USSR. A race to find more allies sharply divided the world. USA used it’s immense financial resources to tempt countries for building alliances and USSR sold the same recipe with different packaging.

Cold war led to hot war in many countries like Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and conflicts in many parts of world. It eventually culminated into break-up of USSR. Unfortunately, the break-up could not stop the sole superpower to go to war again and again. Moreover, it continued to pick new opponents in field of economy like China. In the shadows of hot wars China kept on moving on the ladder of development. Now it is second largest economic power of world and is on its way to overcome USA in near future. Emergence of China spells out a very clear and loud message that only peaceful co-existence can ensure sustainable development.

Regrettably, no country seems interested in peaceful co-existence. Although every country delivers historic speeches at UN and other international forums on the importance of cooperation, but they act in other direction. Now development and diplomatic policies are being made to serve narrow objectives not broader goals. Economic interests top the list and all means are used to secure it. However, President Woodrow Wilson gave a different recipe to forge international alliances and build trust, which is more sustainable, according to him.

President Wilson desired to shape the policy of USA on the basis of morals and ethics not economic interests solely. Unfortunately, the vision of Mr. Wilson, could not get footing in US foreign policy and economic interests dominate the actions of diplomacy. Still we are living in a world which is full of slogans of cooperation but hidden vested interests. Old players are putting efforts to reclaim lost glory and new players are emerging to take part of the pie according their size.

Today we have a population of 68.5 million which is forcefully displaced by one or another reason (UNHCR). Food insecurity started to rise again after many years of decline. FAO 2018 stated that it has reached 824 million in 2017 from 804 million in 2016. Poverty has risen from 10.7 to 10.9 percent in 2018 (World Bank, 2018)

Russia is busy in planning policies and ways to achieves its lost glory. It has started its surge and now it is trying to be part of every economic debate and conflict in world. The US is committed to its status and is not ready to concede a single inch to any country. China is new phenomena in this game. Although China is more concerned about economic engagement, but the present players are trying to drag it to security game by one or other mean.

Recently the world also witnessed new phenomena, a new wave of strongmen across the globe in Russia, the US, India, China, Turkey and most recently, Pakistan

One common characteristic of all strongmen is to secure their interest at any cost. A side-effect of this strongman phenomena is the emergence of new nationalism. The West, which was once considered one of the most tolerant societies is now is losing its image on this front.

All these factors are contributing to further deepening the divide among countries. A tug of war is going among players to dominate the 21st century by one or other mean. President Trump has started a trade war with every trading partner. He is asking to all countries fall in line to follow him. Trade war has started to impact many countries including USA.

Today we have a population of 68.5 million which is forcefully displaced by one or another reason (UNHCR). Food insecurity started to rise again after many years of decline. FAO 2018 stated that it has reached to 824 million in 2017 from 804 million in 2016. Poverty has risen from 10.7 to 10.9 percent in 2018 (World Bank, 2018). World Bank latest facts rang the bell of alarm.

In addition to all these factors climate change is playing havoc with humanity and planet earth. Climate change is contributing to aggravate existing problems of world. It is contributing to increase food insecurity. It is bringing in new people to poverty trap. It is triggering forced migration and creating a new class of refugees without any identity and help. It also has a dimension of security as was mentioned by UN Security Council and other UN agencies like UNEP, UNDP and IMO etc. It has contributed to trigger and worsen the conflicts. Sudan, Syria and Yemen conflicts have strong linkages to climate factors.

Lack of cooperation will lead to the destruction of humanity and the planet by climate change or by conflicts and wars. Therefore, we have to deal with our egos and self-interest a little bit and get the everyone happy on the planet. But the question is, “Can We Learn to Cooperate in 2019?”.

The writer is COO Zalmi Foundation

Published in Daily Times, January 4^th 2019.