At present, we are inhabitants of a strange and deeply troubling world. Although humanity claims to have achieved extraordinary heights in science, technology, and material progress, where is the reflection of that advancement in human psychology and behavior today?
Will morality, civility, decency, generosity, and mutual courtesy disappear forever from this modern world? Thoughtful people are increasingly concerned and confused about what era we are truly living in and what appropriate name might be given to this age devoid of restraint and dignity.
A glance through the pages of history reveals that even in ancient and medieval times, when warfare and diplomacy existed in their primitive forms, states still adhered to certain unwritten rules in their dealings with one another.
They maintained at least a minimum level of dignity and respect. Yet in today’s so-called civilized world, when one state hesitates to extend even the slightest diplomatic courtesy to another, we are left astonished and speechless.
Mutual respect has been replaced by arrogance, pride, and an ugly tendency to belittle others. Powerful and imperialistic states also existed in the past.
However, when they engaged in bilateral or multilateral discussions with other sovereign nations, they at least maintained a veneer of respect and courtesy before the public and on the world stage, even if it was somewhat artificial.
The picture today is markedly different and, in many cases, undeniably more distasteful.
In contemporary world politics, public threats and the doctrine of coercion have taken the place of diplomatic etiquette. One state openly boasts of occupying another or wiping it off the map through devastating military strikes.
More shamefully still, international norms are being disregarded to the extent that invited guests are insulted even after being formally welcomed as state visitors. As a result, invited heads of state and representatives often leave feeling offended and humiliated.
There have even been unprecedented incidents in which participants have been forcibly or disgracefully removed from high-level multilateral meetings. This decline in political decorum across the world has pushed societies and state systems toward a profound crisis.
The proverb, “a self-appointed leader whom no one recognizes,” appears increasingly applicable in international affairs. Just as the strongmen of earlier times imposed their dominance through brute force, harsh language, and ruthless methods, the rhetoric and behavior of some self-styled global powers today often seem even more intolerable and reprehensible.
Relying on military might and coercive power, they behave as though they are above all constraints. On one hand, there is pride in artificial intelligence and the conquest of space; on the other, there remains the savagery of primitive ages. If so, where exactly lies the difference between this modern era and those ancient times?
We believe there is little value in boasting about the greatness of an age if human consciousness itself does not advance. In today’s world, the respect that one country shows another is often not rooted in genuine regard, but largely in fear of nuclear weapons and military power.
Yet despite building vast arsenals, no superpower has been able to achieve absolute victory; instead, war and violence continue to spread destruction.
Unless global leadership turns away from this self-destructive path and restores mutual respect and diplomatic courtesy, the chariot of civilization is destined to be shattered. Therefore, abandoning the arrogance of power and restoring international civility in the interests of world peace and humanity should be the foremost commitment of today’s leaders.
