Realist school of global relations is fuelling unprecedented arms race
Re: “If you want peace, prepare for war”, 0pinion, March 15.
It is axiomatic that peace is not “given for free”, and therefore the Latin maxim “Si vis pacem, para bellum” continues to inspire the realist school of international relations. But that same philosophy is also driving what is now an unprecedented arms race at the global level.
However, the United Nations has offered a different approach.
The UN General Assembly reached consensus on the Declaration on the Right to Peace on December 19, 2016. While this document is relatively modest in content, it has the diplomatic merit of inviting all stakeholders to recognise the high importance of practising tolerance, dialogue, cooperation and solidarity among all human beings, peoples and nations of the world as a means to promote peace. To that end, present generations should ensure that both they and future generations learn to live together in peace with the highest aspiration of sparing future generations the scourge of war.
The invitation to practice solidarity has a crucial significance.
The Catholic Church adopts the Latin doctrine “opus solidaritatis pax” – peace is a fruit of solidarity. This maxim can be also interpreted as meaning that, without solidarity we shall never have peace. It reflects present geopolitical realities and contains an obvious appeal to mobilise national and international energies in favour of peace as a supreme value of humanity.
Ioan Voicu
Bangkok
