An overview of the current global political situation...

An overview of the current global political situation, the instability that it is creating, and the reformation of the global world order.

In recent years, the world has witnessed a growing trend of political instability, fuelled by a range of factors such as rising inequality, growing authoritarianism, and escalating geopolitical tensions. This instability is creating significant challenges for the global community, as it threatens to undermine the stability of the current global order and exacerbate global issues like climate change and international economic growth.

One of the key drivers of political instability is the rise of authoritarianism in countries around the world. From Russia and China to Turkey and Egypt, and to USA and Canada, authoritarian regimes are increasingly using their power to suppress opposition and limit civil liberties. This has created a climate of fear and uncertainty, as citizens in these countries are often unsure of their rights and the future of their democracy.

Another factor contributing to global instability is the growing economic inequality within and between countries. As the gap between the rich and poor continues to widen, many people are feeling left behind and are turning to populism and liberalism in response. This has led to the rise of political movements and parties that prioritize national interests over global cooperation, and which often espouse xenophobic or discriminatory views.

At the same time, the world is facing a growing number of geopolitical tensions, which are threatening to destabilize global politics. These include the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, tensions between China and the United States over trade and territorial disputes, and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The conflict in the Middle East is a complex and multifaceted issue that has been ongoing for several decades. There are several factors that have contributed to the conflict, including historical grievances, ethnic and religious differences, geopolitical tensions, and struggles for power and control.

One of the key factors contributing to the conflict in the Middle East is the historical legacy of colonialism and imperialism in the region. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, many countries in the Middle East were colonized by European powers, which often drew arbitrary borders and imposed their own political and economic systems on the region. This created a legacy of resentment and mistrust that continues to fuel conflicts in the region.

Another factor contributing to the conflict in the Middle East is the complex mix of ethnic and religious differences that exist in the region. The Middle East is home to a diverse range of ethnic and religious groups, including Arabs, Persians, Kurds, Jews, Christians, and Muslims. These groups have different languages, cultural practices, and historical grievances, which can create tensions and conflict.

Geopolitical tensions have also contributed to the conflict in the Middle East. The region is home to some of the world's most important strategic resources, including oil and gas reserves. As a result, many powerful countries, including the United States, Russia, and China, have sought to exert their influence in the region, often through support for various regional actors and proxy conflicts. Many countries in the region have experienced political instability, civil war, and violent conflict, as various groups seek to gain or maintain control over territory and resources.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has had a significant impact on the region and the world as a whole. It has led to significant loss of life and displacement of people, as well as political and economic instability. It has also fuelled the rise of extremist groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS, which have carried out acts of terrorism and violence in the region and around the world.

To address the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, there is a need for a comprehensive and coordinated approach that addresses the root causes of the conflict. This will require addressing historical grievances, promoting greater understanding and respect between different ethnic and religious groups, and finding ways to promote economic development and political stability in the region. It will also require greater cooperation between regional and global actors, to promote peace and stability and address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.

The rise of these political and economic pressures is causing significant disruptions to the global order, which is leading to the need for a reformation of the global world order. This is not an easy task, as it requires addressing the underlying causes of instability and creating a new framework for cooperation that can help to address these challenges.

One of the key challenges that must be addressed in the reformation of the global world order is the need to balance national interests with global cooperation. As countries become increasingly focused on their own domestic issues, it is becoming more difficult to build consensus and cooperation on issues that affect the world as a whole. This requires a new approach to global governance, one that prioritizes collaboration with competition and recognizes the interconnectedness of global issues like climate change, economic growth, and security.

Another challenge that must be addressed is the need to build a more inclusive and equitable global understanding. This requires addressing the root causes of economic inequality, including the unequal distribution of resources and access to education and healthcare. It also requires addressing the systemic discrimination and prejudice that exists in many societies, including racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination.

The reformation of the global world order must also address the need for a more effective system of international governance. This includes the need for more effective global institutions, such as the United Nations, to help coordinate international efforts on issues such as climate change, economic growth, and security. It also requires addressing the need for better regulation of global trade and financial systems, to ensure that these systems are fair and equitable for all.

To achieve this, people across the world must work to build societies that are based on the principles of equality, justice, and mutual respect. This requires building an effective global dialogue, which can help to coordinate international efforts on key issues and promote global cooperation.

To address these challenges, there is a need for a reformation of the global world order that can balance national interests with global cooperation, promote inclusivity and equity, and build more effective institutions. This will require a new approach to global governance, one that prioritizes collaboration over competition and recognizes the interconnectedness of global issues.

Ultimately, achieving this vision will require a shared sense of universal responsibility, one that recognizes our interconnectedness as a world community and works together to address the challenges we face. While the road ahead will not be easy, by working together, we can build a more stable, equitable, and just global order that can meet the challenges of the 21st and 22^nd centuries.

 

A “Don” in the White House

Donald Trump, the past and current President of the United States of America is in the daily global news headlines for his tendency to stoke controversies, browbeat opponents and allies in equal measure, and create an atmosphere of fear, resentment and uncertainty across the world. However, he uses this to distract his critics and detractors from the big policy changes that he is making, literally on a daily basis.

 During his first presidential term from 2017 to 2021, the world’s focus was on what he was saying and not on what he was doing, as is today during his second term. As Trump carries forth in public from one self-inflicted crisis to the next, in reality he seems to be having a positive effect on the American people’s lives in the areas of safety from criminals, illegal immigration, judicial activism, economy and business, trade policies and foreign policy, among others.

He has put China in his gun-sight, challenging its position as the second largest economy of the world. Trump is clamping down on China by imposing the tariff on Chinese goods, and this escalating trade war between the two countries has created an uncertainty resulting from the enormous taxes levied on each other’s imports with the tariffs often costing more than the price of goods itself. While the U.S. tax structure varies according to the goods, from zero percent on books to 20% on smartphones, it goes up to 245% on syringes and needles. These increased tariffs (or import duties) have a 20% tax component classified a “Fentanyl” tax as a punishment to China for its high-level flow of this powerful synthetic opioid drug that is lethal even in small doses, causing over 75,000 deaths due to overdose in the USA last year (2023-24).

Trump’s tariff wars on countries across the world are not without its failure. When he initially announced the tariffs, describing them as a “Liberation Day” for Americans, he destroyed the global economy by causing a massive collapse of the financial markets, pushing them almost to the brink of complete disaster. Initially he assured everyone that his tariffs were all part of a master-plan and suggested that he would negotiate tariff arrangements with the affected nations. The hugely negative market response and a loss of over a trillion dollars when the markets crashed, forced him to abandon the plan within days, admitting publicly that he had reversed his decision due to market panic.

Trump’s policies on immigration has spread fear among the undocumented migrants in the USA. His actions have effectively overhauled parts of the U.S. immigration system, including the processing and deportation of people. His administration publicized videos and photos of deportation flights with its occupants tied-up in chains, causing a global outrage and condemnation. But, by putting out videos of people being deported in military aircraft, his has created the myth of being a strong President who is unrelenting and tough on illegal immigration, while hiding the fact that his predecessor Joe Biden had deported 271 migrants to 192 countries in 2024, and over 1.5 million deportations during his four years in office. However, unlike Biden, Trump has suspended the entry of all undocumented migrants to the USA and is turning them away without granting them any asylum hearing.

His complete support for Israel in their war against Hamas in the Gaza, even with Israeli attacks leading to the death of 50,000 Palestinians is now affecting the status of legal migrants into the USA, especially those who took part in the pro-Palestine gatherings on campuses. The Trump administration is now using its immigration enforcement powers to suppress the activities of international students and scholars who participated in pro-Palestine demonstrations or criticized Israel over its military actions in Gaza. Accusing the protestors of being supporters of Hamas, a globally designated terrorist group, the administration is using a rarely invoked statute to authorize the Secretary of State to expel non-citizens from the U.S. citing their presence as a threat to U.S. foreign policy interests. Some have been taken into custody and deported, some fled the country when their visas were cancelled and some have taken their cases to court to seek justice and justification.

So, the question is, why does Trump behave irrationally? Some observers say that he is playing the much used ‘madman’ theory of global politics. The key principle of the madman theory is to convince opponents that a leader is unpredictable and potentially irrational, willing to undertake actions that defy conventional norms or expectations. This psychological tactic relies on the belief that uncertainty and fear can alter the decision-making calculus of adversaries, leading them to make concessions or adopt more conciliatory positions. However, this requires a delicate balancing act, where the leader’s public image has to be carefully managed to maintain that very thin distinction between calculated unpredictability and a genuine threat to international stability.

Trump uses his own version of this theory, where he praises dictators and alienates allies, using chaos to create uncertainty in geo-politics. Today, Canada is in an economic trade war against the U.S., while Denmark is in the process of preventing the promised takeover of Greenland by the Trump administration, even if it means using its military to defend Greenland. Trump seems to be using the ‘theory of chaos’ more than anything else. The Chaos Theory is based on the premise that while chaotic systems display unpredictable behaviour, the hidden side of the systems are a well defined and perfectly determined set of equations that work with high precision. Trump’s daily announcements has thrown the world into uncertainty. While his tariffs on China was expected, his imposition of tariffs on Canada and other friendly states, his refusal to send  any more military equipment to Ukraine, and his disregard for the mediation efforts by the French and the British shocked the Western world, especially the NATO countries.

Trump’s erratic behaviour revolves around two main factors; short-term gains for the U.S. treasury and the containment of China, economically and militarily. He has a transactional approach that gives priority for immediate profit over long term strategic alliances and he treats geopolitics as business deals. He wants to break the growing Russia–China alliance and has the opinion that ending the Ukraine–Russia war quickly would lead to better relations between the U.S. and Russia, while securing economic advantage by acquiring Ukraine’s mineral resources and potentially restarting the Nord Stream pipelines. In this plan, the American interests are predominant and those of traditional allies are secondary. Since Russia seems to be struggling economically, it might keep a distance between itself and China should the U.S. overtures offer tangible financial benefits. China has little to offer Russia apart from ideological solidarity, and pragmatism carry’s more weight than ideology in international politics where financial benefits are prominent.

Trump’s tariffs on various nations, including his neighboring nations of Canada and Mexico are harsh. However, the Indo-Pacific nations of India, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan and Australia, have been treated mildly. It might be because these countries form a strategic perimeter around China and Trump needs these countries to support him to contain China. His view of the world seems to divide nations into two categories; those that are necessary to contain China and those who are irrelevant to this goal. It can be jocularly said, that had Canada bordered China, it might not have been targeted with punitive tariffs.

Trump essentially behaves like a crafty mafia don. While in public, he is belligerent, appears reckless and announces grandiose plans to annex Canada and Greenland; his private decisions are very clearly focused on reducing the financial burden of hosting illegal migrants, growing the U.S treasury through tariffs, forcing manufacturers to restart factories inside the U.S. and generate local employment, weaken the leftist–liberal political establishment, combat violent crime, and overall increase the confidence of his supporters and those who voted him into power. And if this means he has to bend and ignore the accepted rules of domestic and international political engagement, so be it. His flip-flops on policy matters is no joke, even though his new nick-name is "TACO" = Trump Always Chickens Out. 

Regardless of whether Donald Trump will go down in history as a 'President who changed the USA' or just a vain and mentally afflicted person - to his MAGA supporters he will always be the Don.

The “Don” rules

 

Understanding the Middle East Crisis: Key Issues and Challenges

The Middle East crisis has been a complex and longstanding issue, rooted in deep political, religious, and territorial disputes. However, the current conflict in the region has taken on new dimensions, making it more intricate than before. In this article, we will analyse four critical aspects of the ongoing crisis: how it differs from earlier conflicts, its long-term economic implications, the reasons for its spread, and the possibility of restoring peace.

1. Why is the Current Conflict Different from Earlier Ones?

While the Middle East has experienced conflicts for decades, the current crisis stands apart due to several significant factors. Unlike earlier wars, which were primarily local or national in nature, the current conflict is more regional and global. One key difference is the involvement of non-state actors such as militias, insurgent groups, and extremist factions like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis; which play pivotal roles alongside traditional state actors.

Additionally, technological advancements have altered the nature of warfare. Cyber warfare, drones, and missile technologies have transformed how battles are fought, making the consequences more devastating. This conflict is also unfolding in an era of heightened social media use, where misinformation, propaganda, and real-time updates fuel emotions and political actions far beyond the immediate region.

The geopolitical landscape is more fragmented than before, with shifting alliances among regional and international powers like the U.S., Russia, and China; each pursuing their own strategic interests. These changes make the current conflict more volatile and unpredictable.

2. Long-term Economic Impact on the Region and Globally

The economic ramifications of the Middle East crisis are expected to be profound and far-reaching. Within the region, conflicts have caused significant destruction of infrastructure, resulting in long-term damage to local economies. Nations such as Syria, Yemen, and Iraq have experienced dramatic declines in their gross domestic product (GDP) due to ongoing conflicts, leaving millions displaced and economies in tatters.

On a global scale, the Middle East is home to some of the world’s largest oil reserves, and any escalation in conflict threatens the stability of global oil supplies. Disruptions in oil production or transportation could lead to price shocks, affecting industries and consumers worldwide. Furthermore, global supply chains, particularly in energy and trade routes like the Strait of Hormuz, could be impacted, creating ripple effects in markets from Europe to Asia.

Reconstruction efforts after the conflict, whenever they begin, will likely require significant international aid, which will put further strain on global financial resources and increase tensions over foreign investments and interventions.

3. Reasons for the Conflict's Spread to Lebanon and Iran

The spread of the conflict towards Lebanon and Iran stems from both historical grievances and contemporary strategic concerns. Hezbollah, a powerful Shiite militia based in Lebanon and supported by Iran, has become deeply involved, viewing its role as part of a broader resistance against Israel and Western influence in the region. Lebanon’s fragile political system and Hezbollah’s militarization make it a likely battleground, as seen in previous conflicts involving Israel and Lebanese forces.

Iran’s involvement is equally significant. As a regional power with ambitions to expand its influence, Iran provides financial and military support to proxy groups across the region, including Hezbollah and other militias in Syria and Iraq. The sectarian divide between Sunni and Shia Muslims also plays a major role, with Iran positioning itself as the leader of the Shia bloc in opposition to Sunni-dominated states such as Saudi Arabia.

The conflict’s spread is further exacerbated by the shifting alliances and rivalries between regional powers, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, all of which have vested interests in either containing or expanding the conflict based on their national security and political agendas.

4. Possibility of Peace Restoration and Global Solutions

Restoring peace in the Middle East remains a daunting task, but it is not entirely impossible. Achieving long-lasting peace will require a multifaceted approach, involving both regional and global stakeholders. Diplomacy will play a key role, and it is essential for the global community to encourage direct negotiations between conflicting parties. International organizations such as the United Nations must take a more proactive stance, facilitating peace talks and ensuring compliance with ceasefire agreements.

Economic incentives can also be leveraged to promote peace. Initiatives aimed at rebuilding war-torn nations and reviving economies could serve as motivation for warring parties to seek resolution. Regional cooperation on issues like water security, infrastructure development, and trade can help reduce tensions by fostering economic interdependence.

Moreover, external actors, including the U.S., Russia, and the EU, must refrain from exacerbating the conflict by supporting opposing sides. Instead, they should focus on diplomatic efforts and reducing arms proliferation in the region. Mediation by neutral states like India or international organizations could help bridge the divides between major regional powers.

While the road to peace is fraught with challenges, including deep-seated mistrust and unresolved political grievances, a concerted global effort that is focused on dialogue, economic recovery, and the de-escalation of military tensions, can help set the stage for a more peaceful and stable Middle East.

 

Why the Western Nations are Against the Idea of a Rising Bharat

Fascists! Neo-Nazis! Patriots in Bharat (known to the world as India) are being labeled and branded by the so-called intellectuals of the western world as the ‘next danger to global peace’; while in reality, they have not even understood the issue that they are criticizing through the medium of innuendo and outright false-hood.

The very definition of politics as left-wing, centralist, right-wing, etc.; is very much a narrow western concept that is unable to cover the socio-political nuances of the oldest civilization of the world. Western politics has always been defined through the lens of religion. Almost all Western countries have their democracies formulated on the basis of religious tenets, with Christianity being the bedrock of all their values. Being cultureless since their very existence, the Westerners are unable to reconcile the Bharatiya (Indian) concept of political thought, where patriotism is the spark that drives all social behavior. The west, due to its very narrow ideas of translation, equate the word Dharma to religion; not understanding that the very idea of Dharma is much larger than their capability of perception and that Dharama encapsulates various other factors of responsibility, honor, pride, duty and empathy. To the westerners, each of these qualities are separate and co-exist; while in Bharatiya sanskriti (culture) they form an amalgamation of all into one, the Dharma. And, due to their inability to understand this complex, yet simple aspect of our culture, they pervert the definition of Bharatiya patriotism into something that should be unacceptable and a potential danger to the world.

So, let us correct the record for posterity. Bharatiya patriots are not fascists, neither are they neo-Nazis. They are simply people who are loyal to their Nation, and the values that define this nation; equality, freedom, and the right to merit-based success. It is the last value, the “right” to meritocracy, that defines the “right-wing” political forces of Bharat. The country known as India was ruled and destroyed by the Europeans for over 200 years, primarily by the British. Being a cunning, vicious and moral-less community of scavengers, they were able to establish their rule by force over most of the world; replacing the equally moral-less but less militarily powerful Islamic Mughal empires.  But they were never able to conquer the Nation of Bharat, the idea that defined the culture and identity of those who emerged from the land of Bharat. During the period of their conquest and rule, they introduced the concepts of communism and socialism, in addition to their ancient concept of imperialism. With the advent of technology, all concepts were strengthened by the forces of capitalism, and these narrow definitions are the root cause of all global conflict. Regardless of the political ‘isms’, countries and their societies are fighting for financial supremacy and are severely against any entity that poses a threat to their financial powers. 

And there-in lies their animosity towards Bharat. They are unable to understand, and unwilling to accept, that the residents of Bharat as fore-going the western values that were forced onto global societies during the age of imperialism, and returning to accept the ancient value systems that were prevalent before the Islamic and the British rule over India. The true, undisputed and ever-existing concepts are defined by the ‘Sanatan Dharma’, where sanatan means eternal and dharma means responsibility. In Bharat, the essence of being alive is defined and determined by the parameters of Sanatan Dharma. These parameters include patriotism, pride, self-determination and immersive religious activities. As the popularity of Sanatani religious activity has grown in Bharat, alarm bells have rung in the Vatican. This Church-based state used to control and dominate global politics and geo-political strategy. Being replaced by the Sanatan Dharma is unacceptable to the Church. Therefore, there is the concentrated and wide-spread effort to defile the name and nature of the forces of change that are being recognized and in many cases being accepted as an alternate to the Western value eco-system. The systematic attacks on the character of Bharatiya patriots comes in various forms, the most frequent being through the media. There is no doubt that Westerners are adept at the using the media in all its forms to define and drive global public opinion. Since every attack requires a target, the westerners are quick to focus their attacks on two entities; the Prime Minister of Bharat (India) Mr. Narendra Modi, and the Rashtriya Svyamsevak Sangh (RSS). The western media is quick to define the RSS as a “fascist para-military” organization; quite forgetting the fact that the very definition of fascist means ‘tyranny of an individual ultra-nationalist despot’, since the word itself was used to define Benito Mussolini, the dictator of Italy. It is said that words carry meanings. However, there is no clear acceptable definition of an ultra-nationalist. To describe somebody as a ‘nationalist’ is a complete definition in itself. A person is either a nationalist or not, there is no in-between or excess. In Bharat, just as in any other country, nationalists are people who strongly identifies with their own nation, vigorously support its interests to the exclusion of the interests of other nations. As the support for all the ideals of Bharat grows exponentially, it weakens the outside forces of the Church, the Western influencers and the radical Islamists. None of these want a Bharat that is powerful and impervious to their influences. As the people of Bharat exert upon their right to be truly independent, self-sufficient and self-reliant, the anti-Bharat forces use every strategy they can to halt this geo-political change. Their efforts to demean a person or an organization are bound to fail since the grass-root people identify and trust the person and the organization.