{"id":176418,"date":"2017-04-19T16:29:47","date_gmt":"2017-04-19T10:59:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=176418"},"modified":"2017-04-25T01:31:57","modified_gmt":"2017-04-24T20:01:57","slug":"a-world-in-disarray","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/a-world-in-disarray\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cA World In Disarray\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Laksiri Fernando<\/a> –<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Dr. Laksiri Fernando<\/p><\/div>\n

I have borrowed the title from a new book by Richard Haass published this year with the subtitle \u201cAmerican Foreign Policy and the Crisis of the Old Order<\/a>.\u201d It is undoubtedly a fitting description of the present uncertain and volatile situation, particularly in America, irrespective of the fact the book was completed before the end of the presidential elections. The value of the book enhances because of this fact. Its last chapter is titled \u201cA Country in Disarray\u2019 to mean the American situation, and its foreign policy. In Haass\u2019 own words in the Forward, the presidential elections \u201c\u2026underscored this judgment by highlighting multiple divisions within American society that are both long-standing and deep.\u201d Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s U-turns and brinkmanship in foreign policy have further highlighted this reasoning in multiple ways in recent weeks.<\/p>\n

British Elections\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Just few minutes before starting this article, the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, announced her decision to call for a snap election on 8 June, which requires a two thirds majority in Parliament tomorrow, given the fixed parliamentary term laws. In her speech, she lamented about the divisions and lack of unity in Westminster, at a time most crucial for the country\u2019s future. She further said, <\/span><\/p>\n

“Divisions in Westminster will risk our ability to make a success of Brexit and cause damaging instability and uncertainty. We need an election and we need one now<\/i>.” <\/span><\/p>\n

It should be noted that when the then PM, David Cameron, of the same (Conservative) party called for a referendum in June 2016, he didn\u2019t anticipate the Brexit outcome. Similarly, there can be a risk that the coming election might turn into another \u2018referendum\u2019 against her type of Brexit, which is called a \u2018hard or clean Brexit,\u2019 although her popularity is well ahead of Jeremy Corbin and the Labour Party. There are others who anticipate her victory, anticipated as overwhelming, to lead a \u2018soft-Brexit\u2019 instead of the present hard approach. There are more confusions. Another consequence could be the strengthening of the separatist drive of Scottish nationalism, even risking the unity of the Kingdom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At least there is one silver lining in the dark cloud. Given the coming elections in Britain, it is quite unlikely that America would go for a risky war with North Korea (or in the Middle East), without its close partner and ally (Britain), although it could count on Australia\u2019s (though reluctant) support. Australian policy seems to be to support America in the Asia-Pacific region, but not to the extent of a direct war, with North Korea or any other. South Korea is also going for presidential elections in May. When the American Vice President, Michael Pence, was in Tokyo the day before, the main Japanese interests were mainly to talk trade and economic relations and not war. Therefore, America may have to retreat from war rhetoric in a decent manner in the near future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The downside of all these would be the unpleasant predicament of the world to repeatedly listen to North Korea\u2019s military rhetoric in the coming future. This may be tolerable, if Kim Jong-un would not try a missile or a nuclear misadventure or strike. The tensions at present at the border between the North and the South are dangerous, irrespective of the so-called demilitarized zone. <\/span><\/p>\n

End of An Era? \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

As Richard Haass has summarized: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we are witnessing is a widespread rejection of globalization and international involvement and, as a result, a questioning of long-standing postures and policies, from openness to trade and immigrants to a willingness to maintain alliances and overseas commitments<\/i>.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

The above refers to more profound, general and other issues in the international scene. As I write this, I hear the Australian PM, Malcolm Turnbull\u2019s voice, repeatedly broadcasted over the TV in his announcement of scrapping of the Visa 457 early this evening, restricting overseas skilled labour taking up of Australian jobs. As he says: \u201cAustralian jobs for Australians, our policy is Australia First.\u201d This is the equivalent of Donald Trump\u2019s intended order banning H-1B Visas in the USA. As Paulin Hansen of the One Nation party claims, Turnbull\u2019s policy is \u2018plagiarised\u2019 from her policy! It appears even the Labor (this is how Australia spells it without an unnecessary \u2018u\u2019) under Bill Shorten is towing a similar line. In Australia, unlike in the UK, there is quite a close symmetry between political parties on these issues and policies.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There is no question that the fall of the Berlin Wall (a previous 11\/9) in 1989 and the apparent end of the Cold War ignited a hope for a new ear. Even after the containment of Saddam Hussein initially in 1990, there was much hope that a New World Order would emerge. Because there was much cooperation in the world for peace and justice. Against Saddam, when he invaded Kuwait, there was unanimity in the Security Council. But that is not there now. <\/span><\/p>\n

However, there was another international undercurrent becoming predominant. That was triumphalism (neo-conservatism) and the trends of extreme globalization and neo-liberalism misusing innovations in IT and related technologies. Here I am not necessarily reporting Haass\u2019 views, but my own. This is what has now led to disarray, betraying the hopes for a New World Order. This is not to deny any progress during this period. But the progress has been contradictory or lopsided even jeopardizing even our common environment through climate change. Haass has highlighted the tragedy in Syria, and in his words, \u201chundreds of thousands of Syrians had lost their lives and more than half of the population had become internally displaced or refugees, in the process threatening to overwhelm not just Syria\u2019s neighbours but Europe as well.\u201d I would add, Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan also to the equation. As part of this fiasco, the number of refugees and internally displaced people in the world have increased to around sixty million. The purpose here is not to document all the symptoms of the current disarray, but to make a sense out of the main direction. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Bizarre Developments <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

When Donald Trump came to power in America there was some hope, whatever his other weaknesses, that he would somewhat change some of the previous \u2018globalist\u2019 policies. The \u2018Pivot to Asia\u2019 was one. Trump did call China \u2018a currency manipulator\u2019 but it was understood in terms of protecting the American economy. He and Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, appeared the best of international pals. Not long before, he even criticised Obama\u2019s Syrian policy as interference.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In a dramatic U-Turn, however, Trump has now become the most belligerent American President that we have seen in \u2018relative peace\u2019 times. Within a span of a week or so, he ordered 59 Tomahawk missiles strikes at al Shayrat air force base in Syria. Then came the dropping of the \u2018mother of all bombs\u2019 (GBU-43) at Nangarhar in Afghanistan near the Pakistani border. He also ordered the Carl Vinson (an Armada) to sail towards North Korea.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are questions on how to explain this bizarre turn of events. As quoted by Rajeewa Jayaweera (\u201cOne Global Policeman is Not Enough,\u201d The Island, 19 April) Kathleen Nicks has explained the situation based on Trump\u2019s \u2018unpredictability, instincts and indiscipline.\u2019 Another explanation came through the \u2018News Republic\u2019 news service, referring to John McCain\u2019s interview with Chuk Todd, when the former appeared on \u2018Meet the Press.\u2019 To introduce briefly, John McCain is a senior Senator and a senior Republican. The relevant interview portion goes as follows. <\/span><\/p>\n

Todd<\/b>: \u201cI want to talk about the overall changes. You\u2019ve said he\u2019s growing in office. There are some that will say, \u2018no the Washington establishment sucked him in<\/b>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

McCain<\/b>: \u201cI hope so<\/b> [awkward laughter]. On national security, I do believe he has assembled a strong team and I think, very appropriately, he is listening to them.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What is this Washington establishment? There are several interpretations. Greg Rushford once gave the following. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe real Washington establishment, however, consists of the people under the radar who spend decades there. They hold various titles \u2014 federal bureaucrat, lobbyist, lawyer, journalist, consultant, think-tank fellow \u2014 but they are alike in being inextricably linked to the policymaking process. They\u2019re the ones who make the trains run on time<\/i>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, they are about the \u2018deep state.\u2019 They not only \u2018make the trains run on time,\u2019 as Rushford has said, but also \u2018make the bombs drop on other people\u2019s countries! Even there is a book titled, \u201cHow Washington Actually Works for Dummies\u201d! \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What is to be Done?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

It sounds like Lenin! But there is a chapter on that title in Richard Haass\u2019 book. Haass has been a professional diplomat and was an advisor to President George W. Bush, to say the least. Whatever his past views, he has come to some senses on the present situation. I have listen to him speaking on the book, the other day, and he is advocating in my view \u2018a middle-path\u2019 in many of the matters. He even said we need \u2018a bit of humility\u2019 in world affairs. I would say \u2018not a bit, but a lot\u2019! He doesn\u2019t prophesy \u2018disarray\u2019 as a future perspective, but offers a way out. He says, <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA big part of how the future unfolds will depend on whether the principal powers of this era can develop a common approach, or at least overlapping approaches, for what constitutes <\/i>[international] legitimacy<\/i>.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

For this to happen, he also says that \u2018sovereignty between and among states needs to remain at the centre of the global order.\u2019 He does not consider sovereignty to be obsolete. Most interesting might be to a Sri Lankan audience is his departure or dissent from what is known as R2P (Responsibility to Protect). The usual argument is that if the protection fails, the states lose their sovereignty in that sphere or to that extent. Haass has suggested something fundamentally different. His premise is to start with \u2018sovereign obligation\u2019 of states.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As there is a right to sovereignty in the state, there is also a concomitant obligation for the state. This obligation is for or towards the other states, the governments, the peoples and for the agreed international principles (or laws). This is to have a better international order, preventing disarray. To state it again, the notion is \u2018sovereign obligation.\u2019 He believes this is different to \u2018sovereign responsibility.\u2019 Under the notion of R2P, when the \u2018responsibility\u2019 is breached or \u2018deem\u2019 to be breached, the so-called international community gets a legitimacy to intervene or interfere. In contrast, \u2018sovereign obligation\u2019 is almost a voluntary\/natural obligation. It should come within and not outside. <\/span><\/p>\n

Since mid-1990s, I have been grappling with the concept of \u2018international factor\/dynamic\u2019 in human rights as well as democratic development. My understanding has always been that the \u2018international factor\/dynamic or influence\u2019 could be persuasive but not domineering or intervening. There are of course responsibilities on the part of the states and governments to promote and protect human rights of the citizens, but any deviation or violation should best be settled within the countries. Haass does not refer to human rights or democratic developments as such. His primary concern is international order or better international order\/relations without disarray. <\/span><\/p>\n

However, the two concerns are intrinsically linked, as many of the fissures or chaotic conditions are due to the internal violations and\/or undue international interferences; in the latter case, going against the very same objectives that those interventions are supposed to achieve. If a set of \u2018sovereign obligations\u2019 can be accepted as a \u2018common approach or at least overlapping approaches,\u2019 then the present world might be a better place to live. That is the way to get rid of \u2018disarray\u2019 according to Richard Haass. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[…]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":92325,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,46,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-176418","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-colombotelegraph","category-constitutional-reforms","category-editorial"],"yoast_head":"\n\u201cA World In Disarray\u201d - Colombo Telegraph<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/a-world-in-disarray\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u201cA World In Disarray\u201d - Colombo Telegraph\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"[…]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/a-world-in-disarray\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Colombo Telegraph\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-04-19T10:59:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2017-04-24T20:01:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Laksiri-Fernando.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"237\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"263\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"COLOMBO TELEGRAPH\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"COLOMBO TELEGRAPH\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/a-world-in-disarray\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/a-world-in-disarray\/\",\"name\":\"\u201cA World In Disarray\u201d - 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