EPA-1663 – International Peace Process Revisited: West and the World

Abstract

In my earlier presentations, I discussed international discord and warfare from the perspective of the third world. The breakdown of the Soviet hegemony in 1991 gave a hope for world peace which proved to be false and elusive. That left the U.S. as the only superpower, which has increasingly taken upon itself the task of teaching the world lessons in government, little realizing that it is an impossible goal.

The history of warfare is largely the history of technology. History is replete with examples of a primitive force pitted against a far superior firepower, with catastrophic consequences (Zulu, 1838, Tashkent 1865, Sokoto 1897, Omdurman 1898). Bravery is extolled; however, the victorious are not necessarily brave; only better equipped. There is no bravery going against a technologically inferior adversary. Bravery consists of defending against odds. There was bravery in Poland, the USSR, and the U.K. warding off the Nazi onslaught. Almost by definition, no act of aggression can ever be called’brave’!

The last two decades has witnessed large-scale violence in the world. The world has stood by, largely impotent, as large-scale genocide occurred, in Cambodia, in Serbia, in Rwanda, now, in the Sudan. 9/11 and its aftermath are adding new dimensions to international discord and violence.

The history of warfare illustrates the futility, or at least, limitations of warfare. In a recent work, Jonathan Schell has illustrated that many political changes which are supposed to have resulted from war and violence, would have come even otherwise. Jesus Christ said,’For they that live by the sword shall die by the sword.’ and the great Mahatma said:’There is no way to Peace. Peace is the way!’