The urge to dominate has discovered new frontiers when it comes to human survival in a world surrounded by hostile forces. But it is the same urge that has devastated the human world many times over. The power struggle among nations and empires has caused havoc to human civilisation throughout history. Most of the wars fought in near and distant past are finally an expression to dominate others, and ensure that the world is made to submit to the will of the powerful. After the great wars fought in 20th century, mankind learnt some lessons to review the understanding about wars. Since the invention of new weapons extended the ravages of war to non-combatants, as cities were bombed to death in the World Wars, the global leadership decided to establish instruments that could save mankind from such wars. The biggest, and the most effective, instrument was considered to be the political system that we call democracy. It was thought that if democracy is established in a country it was difficult for it to go for a war. To a great extent empirical evidence also supported the postulate that democracies don’t go for a war against each other. The next effective tool was considered as the transnational institutions where the global leadership could meet and talk about issues confronting the world. These two instruments did help in achieving peace in the world. But there were, and are, areas where a wild will to dominate the world results in violent clashes. In fact, this world is still riddled with many conflicts that are actively violent, or have the potential of lapsing into violence anytime. What worries a huge population of sensible people around the globe is that this urge to subdue others, and monopolise global resources, is once again pushing the world into dangerous terrain of full scale violence. The making of new power alliances, and opening up of new trade warfares, is a reason to worry for the future of the world. One can only wish that conflict between global powers, incumbent and rising, doesn’t turn into a military clash. This world, one mauled by the pandemic, deserves a peaceful time ahead.
Virulent Combat
