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Global Politics in 2025

Monday, March 19th, 2007

This article from the current issue of Foreign Affairs is particularly interesting in regards to how Global Politics in the coming decades will be drastically different from how we now know it.

Throughout the twentieth century, the list of the world’s great powers was predictably short: the United States, the Soviet Union, Japan, and northwestern Europe. The twenty-first century will be different. China and India are emerging as economic and political heavyweights: China holds over a trillion dollars in hard currency reserves, India’s high-tech sector is growing by leaps and bounds, and both countries, already recognized nuclear powers, are developing blue-water navies. The National Intelligence Council, a U.S. government think tank, projects that by 2025, China and India will have the world’s second- and fourth-largest economies, respectively. Such growth is opening the way for a multipolar era in world politics.

Reading this article brought me to a few conclusions about the world today, however accurate or not, one of which I’d like to try and convey. It’s no secret that much of the world today views the U.S. as disenchanted, greedy, hypocritical and even evil; and with the empowering growth and influence of China and India, this changes the dynamics of the “King of the Hill” game that the United States and the European Union have danced around for decades. Furthermore, and predictably, the countries that drastically need aid and protection from said super-powers will go unnoticed, ignored, and avoided as the seats of power are re-numbered.

What then of our not-so-fortunate brothers and sisters in Southeast Asia? What then of Africa, Russia, South and Central America? What then of those stuck in the pit of poverty; in the pit of poor health and malnutrition; in the pit of war and culture clash; the pressure of prostitution that drives young girls to loose their innocence, abuse, addiction, retribution, HIV, AIDS. Where are the Good Samaratins on the global scale? See Luke 10:25-37.

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Does philanthropy, or being the “Good Samaritan”, enter the minds of those whose responsibility it is to write and administer foreign policy? Does it enter the mind of the lay citizen? Does it enter the mind of the man?