Then Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, with blood on his face, being taken off the stage at a campaign event in July following an assassination attempt. The chaotic campaign that won Trump the presidency will be followed by a Trump 2.0 term that portends something darker than his first term – his win is like 'an injection of highly combustible material into an already explosive world'. — AFP
My late father always told me to pay attention to the news. Reeling from a childhood torn ragged by the ravages of war, he knew personally that life could be turned upside down at a moment’s notice. And in a shocking blow.
Indeed, 83 years ago this month, Japanese troops landed in Kota Baru at 1.45am on Dec 8, 1941, in a shocking surprise attack, beginning their invasion of Malaya. Later that day, when it was 8am on Dec 7 in the United States, Japanese bombers staged a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The attacks stunned the world.
And yet, hostilities had long been building, with the US government placing an oil and steel embargo on Japan, which had entered resource-rich Indochina earlier in 1941, following its incursions into China. When US and Japanese negotiations deteriorated in November 1941, American officials suspected military aggression would follow.
Watching world events now, I’m reminded of my father’s counsel. It feels like we’re moving to the edge of a precipice, that something untoward is imminent.
The leader of the world’s most powerful country, chief of the largest global economy and mightiest military, will soon be a capricious, impetuous man, and a known superspreader of disinformation. President-elect Donald Trump is also a convicted felon, with a string of scandals behind him, including court cases for hush money, sex crimes, election obstruction, and fraud.
Many commentators have said that Trump’s win presages something tumultuous. Expect the unexpected in his bid to “make America great again”.
Trump 2.0 portends something different, likely darker, than his first term. It’s not the same world now; it’s more turbulent. As one commentator said, his win is like “an injection of highly combustible material into an already explosive world”.
In Europe, the war rages on between Ukraine and Russia, and the latter now has North Korean troops fighting alongside. Forget meaningful negotiations with the Kremlin’s hardline leader Vladimir Putin. Some Nordic nations are now preparing citizens for war. Germany’s Defence Minister broke taboos by calling for the nation to be kriegstüchtig, war-ready. Will Uncle Sam be as ready to back them?
Israel, meanwhile, has conducted bombing raids on Lebanon and Iran after its decimation of Gaza. Its leader Benjamin Netanyahu – who is on trial for bribery, fraud, and corruption – will try to survive politically by bargaining with right-wing hardliners, who want to use the “historic opportunity” to build Jewish settlements in Gaza. Déjà vu? Yes, after the 1967 war, new settlements were set up in the West Bank, where today, half a million settlers live.
Sure, this violates international law. But Israel barely blinked when the International Criminal Court issued warrants against its leaders. Meanwhile, North Korea may be negotiating with Russia over nuclear weapons, while Iran already has an advanced nuclear programme.
Then there’s the impending trade war. Trump is expected to confront his country’s foremost competitor – China – and impose 60% tariffs on Chinese imports, as well as 10%-20% tariffs on all imports, which will impact Malaysia. US automakers are currently struggling while sales of cheap Chinese electric cars are soaring among Americans.
But trade is a tit-for-tat thing, and supply chains are very global, so this plan seems likely to backfire.
On balance, a divorce between the two biggest world economies could shake global trade patterns and push political tensions in dangerous directions.
A new world order seems to be emerging, where autocracies are in the ascendancy. Democracy seems to be dying, along with the rule of law, human rights, and equality. These were values that emerged in the post-1945 world, when war-weary nations set up the United Nations to help maintain international peace and cooperation. Such values led to the recognition of independence movements and individual rights, including in race and sex.
Now, we see anti-liberal, xenophobic, nationalistic, reactionary right-wing movements everywhere. Immigrants are increasingly targeted. Yet they largely benefit societies – immigrants drove Malaya’s tin and rubber industries, and contributed to the development of modern Malaysia, as they now support industries in countries elsewhere.
With so many leaders failing us and wealth becoming more inequitably divided, I can understand the disillusionment and push for change. But a world devolving into brazen self-interest will doom us all.
More than ever, we need international cooperation, if we are to survive the climate crisis. The global mean temperature in 2024 is likely to be above 1.5°C – that is past the critical threshold which scientists say we should not exceed to prevent catastrophic climate change. We’re getting closer to tipping points where the damage can’t be reversed, where cataclysmic forces will wreck any world order. Like I said, we’re at a precipice.
We are at a unique point in history. Our actions today carry so much consequence for the planet tomorrow. I still have hope. Humans have radically changed the world before. After all, 83 years ago, when World War II began here, the world looked very dark.
Human Writes columnist Mangai Balasegaram writes mostly on health but also delves into anything on being human. She has worked with international public health bodies and has a Masters in public health. Write to her at lifestyle@thestar.com.my. The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own.
