- By: Ali Hamza
- IBA University, Sukkur
Is liberalism on its deathbed? The recent convulsions in the Middle East—from the relentless devastation in Gaza to the unprecedented direct strikes between Iran and Israel—suggest not a temporary illness, but a terminal decline. These events are not anomalies in a functioning rules-based order; they are the epitaph for the liberal democratic ideal that powerful nations can be constrained by international law and multilateral institutions. What we are witnessing is the final unmasking: a return to the brutal law of the jungle, where power is the ultimate arbiter and the vulnerable pay the price.
As we all are aware of the basic definition of the liberalism focuses on diplomacy and trade for the prevention of war on one side but on the other hand it also enforces the creation of pacts among countries like WAR-SAW, NATO and UN for the longevity of peace all around the world.
Lets take a look on how and where these defendant of peace failed and are still failing till today Israel – Palestine conflict it has been so many years since this conflict is been going on, with civilians being murdered on both side in the name of peace, we can see that in this case a powerful oppressor (Israel) backed by a super power(America) is completely ignoring the international laws and commiting genocide in the name of peace. In this situation the representatives of the member countries of the organizations like UN, just sit together after some time and conclude that what Israel is doing is wrong and it should be stopped as soon as possible, these countries have collective armies of millions in head count but they themselves are tied up. i believe this is the point in history where we should stop believing that by using diplomacy we can prevent wars. And start believing that “The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must”, and the only way to survive in this world is either become the powerful or be his close ally.
The other case is the conflict between Iran and Israel, I am not here to justify either of these countrie’s actions during the war but to be the witness that countries did not took the international laws seriously and started attacking their regional enemies as they wanted, in this case Israel attacked iran and took out their top leadership members, In my opinion it was clearly a show of dominance from Israel toward Iran. and also Iran’s wish to become a nuclear state is the major headache for israel. we all know how this conflict ended,just because Iran gave Israel a taste of its own medicine Israel backed off and i am a little surprised on how America has justified its interference in the conflict and taking Israel’s side and bombing Iran with its latest bunker buster missiles. Either we like it or not but the truth is that the world is turning its back away from the liberal philosophies and they are starting to understand the meaning of “MIGHT IS RIGHT”.
Now the is question “what Pakistan should do ?”
Its hard for me to say but we as a nation should resolve our internal matters as soon as possible and start preparing for the upcoming storm, We should re-define our relations with our neighbouring Muslim countries like Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia, and with a country like India at our door step we cannot afford to be caught off guard.It is clear now that Priminister Netanyahu’s “Greater Israel” is clearly not the Kingdom of Heaven Jews all around the world imagined, rather its an empire made from the blood shed of millions.