Do Gulf countries really need a Gandhi? This is the first time such a discussion has been started. Currently, the world is getting closer to new alliances and possibly new cold wars as the era of superpowers is over. He is not just needed in the Arab World, the whole world now requires a Gandhi. Who will lead us in what remains in this world?
The next few decades of geopolitics will be messy. Coalitions such as United Nations, the G7 and G20 have failed. This is an indicator that the world’s real situation is getting messy. The Arab world is now facing a leadership crisis because of wars in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Palestine. Daesh’s (the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) control in some regions of Iraq and Syria has proved that current leaders in these countries are no more the choice of urban society.
China, Japan, Europe, USA and Russia all have their own domestic troubles, so it is hard for other country to get their support. Multinational global organisations such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund have failed many nations. IMF and the World Bank, besides the UN, are a great failure of the 21st century. Now if the UN imposes sanctions on any country during a war, it will not be enforceable because of regional powers and their interests.
Ian Bremmer, in his book ‘Every Nation for Itself: Winners and Losers in a G-Zero World’, has cautioned leaders all over the world that no nation will be in control of events emerging due to a crisis of leadership. Individual nations are enforcing order within their respective countries and regions. Most governments will be more inclined to enact exclusive trade agreements with another country or regional bloc.
In this situation, the world needs a Gandhi who can deal with nations and new global organisations are required on the basis of mutual respect and a balance of powers. Veto powers of influencing nations must be stopped and respect every member nation. Let’s hope that nations realise their needs and decide accordingly.
— The reader is a development consultant based in Karachi, Pakistan
