Prof. Dr. Likhit Dhiravegin
Fellow of the Royal Society
The era of globalization has dawned. It is marked new information technology leading to social media and social network. It has ushered in new international environment which impacts upon nations. Of more importance, it has led to new geo-politics, new geo-economics and new power configuration. While the Earth is round, today the world is flat, as the saying goes.
Given the new international development, five major world trends are registered. The first is support from a democratic form of government which is taken as the most desirable system albeit imperfect and with flaws here and there but the least evil one, so to speak. Those countries which govern the realm by a non-democratic system will be sanctioned by various means. The second trend is respect for human rights which are directly related or intertwined with a democracy. Child labor, violation of Habeas Corpus, actions in violation of the fundamental rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the UN, etc. will be met with criticism and unfavorable measures by the world community. The list can be extended.
The third element of the world trend is free trade to boost international economic growth and cooperation. Tariff has been found to be a major cause of economic woes leading to the 1930s depression worldwide and the Second World War. Today, free trade is a practical policy for mutual benefit among nations. But the big issue of fair trade is to be addressed.
The fourth important trend is the realization of the imperative of a livable environment. Global warming which is a burning issue has to be tackled by collaboration of all nations. The Pope has taken it as a significant issue for concern of all nations.
Last is intellectual property protection. Efforts and resources poured in for research which have yielded results must be protected if the world is to move ahead with discoveries and innovations. Copycats and plagiarism must be curbed and discouraged.
These five world trends are here to stay and serve as principle for international relations in politics, economic and business operation and social development.
The five world trends overlap with the UNDP Human Security embracing food security, health security, political security, personal security, economic security, environmental security and community security. The seven item human security corresponds with the fundamental rights or natural rights of human beings which have been the focuses of struggle among members of society since time immemorial. Today, the world has come to the realization that these rights are endowed by nature and all noble creatures have the rights to safeguard these rights against violation. They are to be protected by the rule of law.
The globalization era has led to the awakening of the people for the above rights and they have been in the process of demanding for their rights to be accommodated. The Jasmine Revolution and the Arab Spring and demands for democracy elsewhere have spread across the planet globe. There are two sets of political demands made by the people who are now politically conscious. First is the concrete demands of the four basic needs of food, shelter, clothing and medical treatment when taken ill. Second is the abstract demands of rights and freedom, equality, justice, human rights and last but not the least human dignity. These five elements form the sacrosanct tenet of a democracy. All these demands are part and parcel of the five world trends and Human Security of UNDP and U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
All the above are the beacons of new international order which hopefully would turn the world into a more livable planet and human societies. The mission of members of human societies is to turn the world community into one befitting a habitat for the noble creatures created in the image of the Almighty.