From the escalating tensions in Ukraine to the devastating conflict between Israel and Gaza, and the heartbreaking natural disaster - the recent earthquake in Afghanistan - it can feel as though the world is an overwhelmingly sad and frightening place. In Ukraine, an ongoing dispute continues to stir unrest, impacting millions of innocent lives, destabilising the nation's infrastructure, and perpetuating a state of fear.
Similarly, the conflict between Israel and Gaza fosters a recurring narrative of devastation and despair, with daily living conditions deteriorating rapidly as civilians live in fear of airstrikes and violent confrontations.Unpredictable by nature and devastating in impact, natural disasters like the recent earthquake in Afghanistan remind us of our vulnerability in the face of the Earth's immense power. This devastating event brought about extensive damage, loss of life, and persistent trauma, adding a further layer of struggle to an already economically strained nation.
Democratic situation
Democracy is in crisis. The values it embodies—particularly the right to choose leaders in free and fair elections, freedom of the press, and the rule of law—are under assault and in retreat globally.A quarter-century ago, at the end of the Cold War, it appeared that totalitarianism had at last been vanquished and liberal democracy had won the great ideological battle of the 20th century.
Today, it is democracy that finds itself battered and weakened. For the 12th consecutive year, according to Freedom in the World, countries that suffered democratic setbacks outnumbered those that registered gains. States that a decade ago seemed like promising success stories—Turkey and Hungary, for example—are sliding into authoritarian rule. The military in Myanmar, which began a limited democratic opening in 2010, executed a shocking campaign of ethnic cleansing in 2017 and rebuffed international criticism of its actions. Meanwhile, the world’s most powerful democracies are mired in seemingly intractable problems at home, including social and economic disparities, partisan fragmentation, terrorist attacks, and an influx of refugees that has strained alliances and increased fears of the “other.”
The spread of antidemocratic practices around the world is not merely a setback for fundamental freedoms. It poses economic and security risks. When more countries are free, all countries—including the United States—are safer and more prosperous. When more countries are autocratic and repressive, treaties and alliances crumble, nations and entire regions become unstable, and violent extremists have greater room to operate. Democratic governments allow people to help set the rules to which all must adhere, and have a say in the direction of their lives and work. This fosters a broader respect for peace, fair play, and compromise. Autocrats impose arbitrary rules on their citizens while ignoring all constraints themselves, spurring a vicious circle of abuse and radicalization.