Anti colonial nationalist movements sounded a death-knell for colonialism in the 18th century. As an upshot of the same, nation-states were established which boosted the scientific and technological developments. It was expected that it would fulfil the aspirations of billions of people for freedom.
Let us view the present scenario. There are democratic and autocratic regimes which controls the destiny of humanity as a whole. Common man's dream still remains unfulfilled.
Transfer of power from colonial powers to national governments was expected to establish truly democratic governments. But the same has not happened. However this definitely led to rapid increase in exchange of goods, capital and services across national borders. Over 5 centuries, the technological changes have progressively reduced the barriers but it has not led to global integration.
All national governments have some vested interests to enforce their rule perpetually. When would we witness a truly democratic world? Is it a wild dream or a natural instinctive desire to live in a truly democratic world?
Most countries have become nationalistic, patriotic and more xenophobic. Most nations see other nations as their enemies without any valid reasons.
The characteristic of a nation is determined by economic, political, linguistic, cultural, religious or geographical considerations. However, nationalism is an identity concerned with boundaries, encompassing diversity. It is a soul and a spiritual desire to live together. Yet it led to extreme nationalistic movements such as Zionism and Nazism.
The current phase of globalisation is influencing shaping of world views, relations within families and attitudes of citizens globally. Globalisation could not be defined as one in which national distance nor do normal borders impede economic transformation.
Modern technology has rendered nation-states obsolete as a principle of political organisation. Our world is shrinking, distances get shortened, things move fast. We have become obsessed with consumerism as an ultimate objective of life.
If only China and India were to consume as much resources per capita as America or Japan by 2030 they require the entire planet to meet their requirements.
Globalisation has intensified worldwide. Relations becoming widening, deepening and speeding interconnections, but hardly it have promoted even growth of economic development.
Half of humanity still lives on less than $ 2 per day and over one billion earn less than $ 1 per day. Availability of water, sanitation, medical facilities and human development are diminishing. Globalisation has not helped to meet the needs of majority of people or has it led to world peace. Since the end of cold war millions of people were killed in armed conflicts around the world. Negatives outweigh positives.
Nations are basically communities that people imagine themselves being part of. Nationalism is successor to tribalism. We still uphold the tribal mentality which stands as an obstacle to human solidarity.
Nations are not eternal .There is a beginning and a perennial end. Man is not subjected to his race, language, religion or geographical boundaries.
We talk of justice, freedom, equality, democracy but do they really exist. Nation- states have only produced wars and clashes and it will worsen as long as they prevail.
National unity, social and cultural values are changing. Ethnic diversity exists in most of the countries. Hundreds of ethnic and cultural minorities struggle to breathe freely. Across the world only a few have the level of acceptance and protection.
Nation-states may disappear when the ever increasing inter connected nature of global relations improve. Internationalism is opposed to nationalism, jingoism and national chauvinism. Betterment of humanity demands they should co-operate despite national interests.
We have to outgrow our racial, ethnic, national, religious differences so as to bring harmony. We have to promote human honour and dignity, amity, co-operation and trustworthiness and above all global outlook.
Ethics, morality and other values are creations of human mind. We can make a choice between inevitable outbreak of wars and total destruction of life on earth or total liberation from the dire consequences.
Humanity should pave the way for global-states and global citizenship. Let us seriously contemplate and vow to shape the destiny of all an enriching experience on this planet earth.
