From the editor’s desk

Shedding the power-tag, G7 must re-invent itself

The global political environment is in an incessant flux, and people of countries, developed and developing alike, are for observance of democratic norms in the dealings of international politics. The sharp line dividing the developed and the developing or the underdeveloped must not become a hurdle while conducting international matters anymore. There was a time when G7 enjoyed an unparalleled clout in the world. But as people started educating themselves about human rights, and understood the business of politics and nuances of leadership, they no longer worshipped their leaders as a matter of blind faith. Leaders may forget the lessons of history, being guided by political ambitions alone, people do not. Valuebased politics that adheres to the norms of humanity and universal brotherhood must form the bedrock of diplomacy and international politics. It now looks irrelevant and out-of-place for countries that espouse imperialism and colonialism. In a world that is seeing more and more people becoming increasingly aware of blunders committed in history by their own governments and by others, the conditions are no longer rife where people’s aspirations for a peaceful world order can be easily trampled underfoot.

Therefore when G7 leaders' annual summit was organized recently amid waves of protests, in a place like Hiroshima that has history of its own, a history mankind cannot be proud of, people’s rage and impatience was understandable. It was not very far from Hiroshima's Funairi Daiichi Park, the summit's venue, where hundreds of protesters from all over Japan, even abroad, gathered to show their disapproval against a bloc that advertises and propagates its own version of world order. People no longer trust all of their leaders everywhere. And G7 countries have hitherto done mighty little towards ending the Ukraine war. War ought to be the last resort to resolve any conflict. G7 countries ought to have taken collective diplomatic initiatives to bring both Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table. On the contrary supplying weapons alone to Ukraine and not making any sustained effort to end the war and bring peace in the region does not augur well for a world that is already facing several challenges.

Then, there are issues of civil wars and violence in many African countries. It is not beyond the powers of G7 countries to act collectively to end wars because most of these countries are dependent on the developed countries to run their respective economies. The pandemic ought to have taught the world to unite in acting against every force that is inimical to the interests of humanity. But poverty and economic recessions are still a reality, which have engulfed even the developed world now. Housing crisis is fast emerging across the world and will assume pandemic proportions if not acted upon in time.

State-sponsored terrorism, augmented by non-state actors in support of it, continues to be a threat that has not been adequately addressed. There are other threats too. Climate change is one. But talk of solutions to this crisis is still more or less in the realms of rhetoric, with a lack of strong will to act in a manner that is urgently needed.

Then there are issues of rising problems of cyber security, and unbridled development of artificial intelligence. The field of artificial intelligence is still a grey area, which is why the risks are unknown and of potentially unpalatable consequences.

So when placards and banners of protestors read "No Warthemed Conference," "Hands off on Ukraine," and "No to Japan-US military alliance" in Fukuromachi Park, where the protesters were gathering recently, the message is loud and clear; people expect real solutions to real problems. People expect to see their governments and leaders act together in the larger interest of peace and humanity, and progress for all. The people throughout the world, especially the ones from the developed world, understand that the colossal resources at the disposal of their respective governments can be used for constructive, progressive and creative purposes. The world has reached an era where nature’s message to humankind through natural calamities and pandemics is to unite and work towards larger goals. The James Webb telescope has shown that the universe is larger than we expected. Thus there are larger goals for humanity to achieve, even cosmic ones. The earthlings must, therefore, desist from the pursuance of their narrow interests and look beyond their respective shores to the vast expanse of progressive activities ahead. G7 therefore has to reinvent itself, and redefine and reframe its goals and objectives along the lines of betterment of humanity alone. Only then will protests against it stop, when G7 is able to get back the faith and support of the people at large, by fulfilling the aspirations of people.