THE last century witnessed two world wars. The 21st century has thus far avoided one, though some analysts say it cannot be discounted.
Perhaps the countries planning on having one should be reminded of the price of violence.
The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), a think tank, has just such a reminder. In its Global Peace Index 2018: Measuring Peace in a Complex World study, IEP says that in 2017 the global economy took a US$14.76 trillion (RM60.22 trillion) hit in purchasing power parity terms.
In the calculation of IEP, this is equivalent to 12.4 per cent of the world’s economic activity (gross world product) or US$1,988 for every person.
It may be saying the obvious, but peace does have a strong correlation with economic performance of a country. And happiness, too.
Malaysia is understandably worried as the world grows edgy.
Syria — the least peaceful country in the world in the estimation of IEP — is still ravaged by civil war, with big powers playing one faction against another. Thanks to Syria and Israel’s ceaseless genocidal tendencies, the Middle East remains the least peaceful region in the world. Qatar — a recent addition to regional risk — has come within the range of analysts’ radar after being put under political and economic boycott by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Bahrain.
Unsurprisingly, instability continues to hang like an albatross around the Middle East’s neck.
But our concerns are closer to home, though the push and shove are from a continent afar. Malaysia should not be too troubled if a nation becomes an economic giant. Or even a military power.
But if either is used to our disadvantage, then Malaysia — and the world, too — should not be quiet or allow itself to be quietened. For long, China, having taken the advice of its former leader, Deng Xiaoping, had hidden its strength, biding its time.
The time is now, China seems to tell the world.
Malaysia should not be too perturbed about Chinese national ambitions so long as they are contained within its borders. It’s when ambitions overflow boundaries, they become a concern.
The United States, too, needs to sort out its problem with China in a bilateral fashion, not by turning the South China Sea into a militarised zone.
On May 9 last year, the 14th General Election gave birth to a New Malaysia. This very New Malaysia demands a New World Order that is just, where every nation — big or small, strong or weak — has its rightful place under the global sun.
Call this the Malaysian ethical foreign policy. It is a policy based on the rule of law, justice, fairness, responsibility and accountability. Under such a world order, every nation is accorded its due regard — its maruah dignity.
Maruah begets peace, progress and prosperity. In world that accords maruah to every nation, there is no “them” and “us”. All play by the same rules. None is granted an exception. Only then we can call this a just, ethical world.