The Silence of the BRICS

Peace eludes the world, and moral authority is lacking. “For many, this global rudderlessness recalls Europe’s sleepwalk into catastrophe 100 years ago,” writes Jaswant Singh, former foreign minister of India for Project Syndicate. His essay reflects deep worry that a reckless accident or attack by just one person, combined with global tensions and nations’ refusal to accept borders, could trigger a devastating cascade of conflicts along the lines of the First World War. Russia’s insecurity and aggressive opposition to states along its border seeking close ties with Europe compound security challenges. Emerging economies should firmly oppose the violent patterns of annexation and intervention. “When the foundations of the global order are threatened, great powers must not adopt a policy of inaction and silence,” Singh concludes. “For their part, emerging powers like India, Brazil, South Africa, and Turkey must, at the very least, loudly and categorically defend the fundamental rules of the international system that has enabled them to grow and prosper.” – YaleGlobal