Reshaping World Order

Parmeshwar Devkota

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa formed BRICS in 2009 with the motto of cooperation for continuity, consolidation and consensus among countries. In the recent 15th annual summit in Johannesburg of South Africa, they have decided to induct Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates into the block as full members of the organisation effective from next year.  BRICS represents about 40 per cent of the world’s population and also includes three of the world’s biggest oil producing countries - Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran. 

Following the Second World War, the United State of America and its European allies have been leading the world economy. If the BRICS takes the big chunk of world economy, as the economic and strategic gurus presume, the present world order will change peacefully. The world history is full ups and downs. Sun Tzu, in his famous book, ‘The Art of War’ provides many insights to win war without shedding blood, but neither Chinese emperors nor the emperors of other parts of the world succeeded with his ideas. 

Instead ambitious rulers have used the cutting-age weapons to wipe out enemy, capture territories and destroy religions, cultures and values of the defeated to shape the world order on their own terms. To achieve their goals, powerful states formed alliance to be more powerful and ruthless. Slavery and bloodbaths have been made common, ignoring the tactical war as suggested by Sun Tzu. 

For example, Sumerians (about 8000 BCE), who developed the earliest known civilisation, invented cuneiform, writing system, sexagesimal system for mathematics and astronomy, bricks and plough. They gave order and system in the society, but they were attacked by inferior Babylonians and Akkadians some 3500 BCE for new world order. Similarly, from the 800BC onward, Greeks and Spartans had made a significant influence on world stage with philosophy, science and literature, but barbaric Macedonians, under the leadership of only 18 year old boy Alexander, attacked, killed and enslaved the civilised Greek people in 334BCE and established his empire far and wide. 

Likewise, a new religion Islam came into existence in the year 610CE and tried to incorporate the majority people in the Arabian Peninsula. Amid that, some ambitious Islamic rulers rushed east and west to establish a new world order. The Islamic conquerors were too merciless and barbaric that they terrorised every corner of the world for over five hundred years. Human civilization saw another equally barbaric invader, Genghis Khan whose massive army not only invaded the peaceful states, but also fathered countless children which helped to assimilate tribes. 

Then, the era of European colonialism began with the voyage of Vasco da Gama to India in 1498. The gold rush of Spain inspired the Great Britain to expand its empire in the Americas and Asia. Similarly, France began colonising African countries. The Europeans created new world order and enjoyed every comfort under the sun by inflicting murder, slavery and famines on the humanity.  We have a fresh example that how a weak nation is punished. As Japan excelled in innovations and productions, its ambition grew beyond the national border only to be tamed by the bigger powers later. 

If BRICS becomes successful to establish a parallel world order with the Western countries, it will materialise the tactic suggested by Sun Tzu, ‘… the skilful leader subdues the enemy’s troops without any fighting; he captures their cities without laying siege to them…’’