Russia-Ukraine War: The Cold war is not over yet
By: Syed Mustafa Ahmad
Since February 2022, we have been witnessing a useless war going on, affecting the nook and corner of the world. On the surface, it looks like the rivalries of the bygone past. However, the truth of the matter is that it is the same ideological and economic rivalry that has snapped the social, political, economic and moral threads of the world from 1945-1991 or 1917-1991 or 1932-1991.
In February 2022, the whole world was woken up to the reality that the Cold War mind-set has not gone from the minds of people. Russia has been pounding Ukraine for more than 2 years, without taking the international as well as moral considerations into account.
Everyone is accusing Russia of undermining the honoured and cherished principles of respecting the territorial integrity and internal sovereignty. However, no one looks at the other side of the coin. What forces Russia to attack Ukraine when everything was looking calm in the tumultuous sea?
Is Russia an aggressor? Are other countries in a position to take necessary action against Russia in the wake of Ukraine conflict? Is the NATO the main culprit to be blamed for? Is capitalism the potential threat to the economies of the world? Are socialism and the dream of the greater Russia the main obstacles in the smooth functioning of liberal-democratic government?
Why the US hegemony is being challenged on every stage? Is the world heading for de-globalization? These are some concerns that need to be discussed threadbare. However, the paucity of space constrains me to discuss all of these. On the contrary, the basic idea will be discussed briefly and the future path will be determined for one and all to follow.
As mentioned above, Russia-Ukraine War is the manifestation of the Cold War rivalry between the American-led bloc and the Soviet-led bloc. After the disintegration of the Second World and the hegemony of the US in the worldly affairs, it was decided that the military alliance led by the US, NATO, would not extend its sphere of influence in the future. In other words, it would not conquer or cover more territories at the expense of Russia, the former Soviet Union. However, after the 1991 disintegration, the NATO didn’t stop its policy of extension.
With each passing day, it began to inch closer to Russia, setting stage for another War with deadly consequences. Many countries joined NATO after the disintegration of the Soviet Union into fifteen states. It went against the principles of the international order in general and Russia in particular.
In the same vein, the apprehensions that Ukraine was going to join NATO and the possibilities of installing the nuclear weapons in Ukraine by the US, forced Russia to defend its territory and wage a war against Ukraine, the proxy country of America. When the other worldly countries are right in defending their rights, Russia is also right in defending its territory.
In the eyes of the world, the brutality waged by Israel on Gaza Strip is legal owing to the barbarity perpetuated by the Hamas. However, Russia is an aggressor in its doings when it comes to defend its territory. In the paradoxical situation of ours, on one side the aggressors are merry-making while on the other the innocent are not allowed to protect their territories.
The UN must have stepped in as quickly as possible to stop the further expansion of the nefarious designs of the Western World. Instead, it acted as a mute spectator to let the US destroy the post-communist states and bring unimaginable sufferings in their lives. The 1990s and the 2000s decade proved the last nail in the coffin of the destruction of those countries that didn’t follow the policies of the US. Yugoslavia, Syria and Afghanistan are live examples of this.
No one declared America as an aggressor. However, when it came to Russia, everyone began to cry at the top of their voices. Actually the economic benefits garnered by aligning with the ideology of the US cannot be compromised anytime. So, they like a pack of wolves were aghast at the bombardment of Ukraine by Russia. It is an acknowledged fact that the International politics is a sensitive arena of dirty wars and hypocrisy.
In order to set the things somehow on the right path, all the concerned authorities and the people at the helm of affairs should act responsibly. The blood of the innocent people is flowing like in the poem written by Pablo Neruda, in which the blood of Spain flows endlessly, to nudge us to the brutalities of the so-called, the post-modern and post-truth society.
The UN has the foremost role to play. The whole world is on boil. The cauldron of petty interests is blowing hot, undermining the existence of small vessels. Palestine, Ukraine, Africa, Syria, etc., are being decimated by the cruel claws of the predators. The omnipresence of capitalism and undermining of moral values have left the world to crave for one day peace.
Last but not least, the like-minded countries can pool their resources together to act as an alternative centre of power to minimize the bruises and the chances of bleeding of the fragile earth. All the bilateral and the multilateral agreements both at regional as well as international levels are toothless tigers.
Their swords are blunt and they feign autonomy to throw dust into the eyes of the world. The need of the hour is to find alternative centres of power where the burning issues of poverty, disparity between the rich and the poor, global warming, epidemics, cyber wars, deep fakes, currency manipulation, bad effects of AI, etc., are thoroughly discussed. The era of territorial aggression has to stop somewhere.
Respecting the sovereignty and refraining from interfering in the internal affairs of a country can result in the future betterment of the world. Provocative statements hurt the cause of profound diplomacy and pave the way for useless hostilities and apprehensions. Ukraine as well as Gaza want and need peace. Why to sacrifice innocent at the altar of dirty politics?
When the world is heading towards its fatal end, why to resort to piling up more and more material, never to quench the materialistic thirst? The earth is fraught with dangers to wipe the every mark of humanity. Before it is too late, let us live and let others live in peace. Overall, the world belongs to all and everybody has a right to live.
We are entrusted with the responsibilities of guarding each other’s dignity and honour. Let us act as saviors. Why to become merciless when in the words of William Shakespeare mercy is omnipresent?
