Achieving Peace Between and Within Nations
In many ways the world is unfortunately devoid of any peace and political stability. Various Governments or Governmental Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations have apparently been trying to achieve some sort of peace and stability. Yet the destination is not in sight. Out of the many things that can be done, I list out two of the most important in my opinion.
1. Strengthening Democratic Ideals
It might come as a surprise to many but wars in contemporary world have taken place between countries with at least one of them not being a democracy. In other words, two democracies don’t usually go for wars against each other. Examples of recent wars like those of US-Afghanistan, US-Iraq or US-Libya have one country not being a democracy. Not just the all out wars, even the proxy wars take place at the behest and probably because of essentially undemocratic, Military and Intelligence Agencies. While most of Indians would have little or no idea about Baluchistan but Indian intelligence agencies continue to mark it as an important player in Indo-Pak ties.
People are essentially and inherently peaceful, it is only the 200 odd people running the top brass of nations that foment trouble. More the elite is democratic more would be the space for peace. Democracy gives incentives to the ruling parties to avoid wars. Economic devastation has enough in it to oust out a ruling party. Moreover decisions within democracies would be taken taking into consideration plethora of views. Since personal ego is not at stake, solutions are handy. Hence, stronger the democratic principles, stronger is the chance for peace.
2. Trade and Investment
Come what may, US or India are not going to bomb their own investments in Afghanistan. Even in the widest dreams cant we think of China bombing Pakistan or fomenting trouble therein. Countries look after self interest without any exceptions. This self interest if located outside the boundaries of the country extends the nation’s interest elsewhere. With China’s trade on a rise with India, possibility of an all out war between the two nations in decreasing. Imagine Pakistani investments in Kashmir or India’s investment in Balouchistan, none of the two nations would foment trouble in the other. You would see that countries with trade relations continue to be friends and seldom go for wars against each other.
Peace within nations is subservient not to good and stringent laws but to judicial setup and how justice is dispensed together with an upright moral fabric of the society. Good laws and stringent punishments are not guarantees to peace. Peace prevails even if the laws are not good if the society is morally upright.
As long as people see violence as a method to achieve justice or peace, peace is not going to prevail neither is justice. With all the strikes and bandhs it is peace and justice which are the first causalities. India or any other nation with great Constitutions, active judiciaries or strong Armed Forces will continue to starve for peace and happiness till society learns what peace is, till behavioral changes take place, till people remember that morals and ideals take the driving seat.
“O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for God can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily God is well- acquainted with all that ye do.”
– Quran
