Although interstate armed conflict has dropped dramatically since the end of the Cold War, a great rise in intrastate conflicts has seemed to take its place. One of the scourges of man has always been war, and much has been said regarding whether its prevalence is an indication of the basic nature of man, or whether we are making progress toward a more enlightened way to pursue our lives.
If I were a world leader, especially of a major power, I would stress that although there are plenty of rough conflicts in the world today, caused by anything from a perception of poverty in the human condition to a religious intolerance of the infidel, and so forth, there is also a plateau reached which affords a universal safe haven for the peoples of the world.
As the leader of a major power, I would push the policy of making it important for it to be known that for the first time in history we have the perspective and the technological breakthroughs to support the idea that we can finally fully crawl out of the dark ages and lose some of the trappings of ignorance. I say these things because knowledge is power. Though President Franklin D. Roosevelt said the structure of world peace relies not on one man or nation, but the whole world, there are still great minds and nations that build wonderful peaceful things.(Global Governance Monitor, 2016, np) As a leader I would rely not only on the pragmatic, conservative keep pushing attitude, but would also push for a more immediate agenda of a new state of affairs is here already.
We have the internet, Elon Musk showing us a realistic way to colonize Mars, we have medical breakthroughs which alleviate diseases we thought we’d never get rid of, such as a cure for the Hepatitis C virus, and a fourth industrial revolution with Artificial Intelligence which may restructure the social order for more of a philosophical pursuit than necessities. I would tell people that the inequities of life are changing so as to facilitate more positivistic change.
Another problem with the world today is the rapid change brought about by technology and changing of ideas. Globalization seems to be one of those changes. Again, as a leader of a major power, I would implore people to take a leap of faith and say that a better material life in the light of the new state of affairs previously mentioned will make globalization a force for good.
In the video “in defense of politics” professor Smith challenges us to read the old books, mostly as a way of alleviating what he feels is a deficit in the modern thinking on political science.(Youtube, 2017, np) However, sometimes the old books harken back to a darker age when there wasn’t so much hope for the present and the future. A modern, major world leader could really do something to enhance that present and future with a sort of Bill Clintonesque targeting, like Mr. Clinton seemed to do with the internet and its related economy, producing an Internet Age and a renewed world economic spirit.
There is a very real difference in today and tomorrow, accentuated even more by things such as the fourth industrial revolution. As a world leader, I would say the idea of a positivistic view on life based on where we are now and enduring into the future, is important for peace of mind now, and to put a gentle purpose and focus, and renewed spirit into our lives.
Reference
Council of Foreign Relations. 2016. “Facing Global Challenges.” Global Governance Monitor. Last modified
Professor Smith. 2017 “In Defense of Politics.” Youtube. Accessed July 3, 2017.
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