## Is the world unraveling?
From rising tensions between global superpowers to escalating conflicts fueled by tribalism, it often feels like civilization is teetering on the brink. The Jerusalem Post recently published an insightful piece exploring a chilling possibility: are our own egocentric ideals, the very core of individualistic societies, tearing the world apart?
Beyond Borders: Redefining National Interest in the Face of Global Challenges
Since the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, world politics has been shaped by sovereignty-centered competition and intermittent war. Considered over time, especially as technologies of destruction become more accessible and less discriminate, this seventeenth-century system of belligerent nationalism can never succeed. It could only ensure the plausibility of humanity’s worst-case scenarios. What should be done, especially by major powers now seeking clarity amid the rapidly accumulating harms of “Trump II?” This is not just an important question. It is the single most important query of present times. This is because principal national leaders will need to plan rationally, systematically, and purposely for planetary survival, and because the outlook for collaborative success is diminishing steadily.
All necessary planning calls for an unprecedented willingness to realign narrowly national interests with the wider interests of humankind. Though this requirement will first appear fanciful and visionary, nothing could be less realistic than to remain on a permanent collision course. “The visionary,” warns Italian film director Federico Fellini, “is the only realist.”
The Power of Collective Action: Embracing Global Governance and Cooperation
The imperative nature of our task is clarified by humanity’s conspicuous “advances” in mega-weapons and military technologies. Augmenting such “progress,” certain nation-states are already beginning to accept nuclear warfighting concepts of nuclear deterrence, cyber-warfare and “internet mercenaries.” Insidiously, the largest spread of internet warfare surrogates will take place among bitterly authoritarian and dictatorial regimes. It’s time for candor. Jurisprudentially, we remain at the beginning of a herculean but indispensable task. Until now, in such quintessentially primal matters, we humans have managed to miss what is most important: Recognizing a latent but perpetually determinative “oneness” to world politics.
On this endangered planet, Trump II ideals notwithstanding, there remains a grave need for erudition and learning. The critical theme of human oneness can be encountered in variously vital but generally-ignored literatures; for example, among such philosophic giants as Sören Kierkegaard, Sigmund Freud, Hermann Hesse, Carl Jung, Jose Ortega y’ Gasset, Karl Jaspers, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Emmanuel Levinas, Max Stirner, Miguel de Unamuno and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Ultimately, ignoring these literatures represents an elemental threat to every country’s physical survival.
The Path to a Cooperative Future
- Strengthening International Institutions:Existing international bodies, such as the United Nations, need to be reformed and empowered to effectively address global challenges. This includes increasing their funding, expanding their mandates, and ensuring greater representation for developing countries.
- Promoting multilateral diplomacy:
- Fostering global citizenship:
Countries should prioritize dialogue and cooperation over unilateral action. This means engaging in good-faith negotiations, respecting international law, and building consensus-based solutions.
Education and cultural exchange programs can help promote understanding and empathy between people of different backgrounds. By fostering a sense of shared humanity, we can create a more cohesive and cooperative world.
The Visionary Path: Reframing Our Understanding of Humanity’s Future
Antecedent questions should now be raised. Why have we humans made ourselves so existentially vulnerable? Among other things, the lucid and correct answer would emphasize worldwide desperation to seek personal identity and meaning in “membership.” Everything, as we might learn best from Swiss psychologist Carl G. Jung, begins with the individual, with the microcosm. We’ve detected that JavaScript is disabled in this browser. Please enable JavaScript or switch to a supported browser to continue using x.com. You can see a list of supported browsers in our Help Center. Terms of Service Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Imprint Ads info © 2025 X Corp. OPINION Rule of law or rule by one? The PM’s instructions aren’t above the law The implication is singular: the Shin Bet director is no longer subject to the rule of law, but solely to the prime minister, because the prime minister is the law.
Embracing a New Paradigm
To achieve a truly sustainable future, we must move beyond the limitations of national self-interest and embrace a more holistic and interconnected worldview. This means recognizing our shared responsibility for the planet and its inhabitants, and working together to address the challenges we face as a global community.
The future of humanity depends on our ability to transcend our divisions and build a more just and equitable world for all. This will require a fundamental shift in our thinking, a willingness to challenge the status quo, and a commitment to cooperation and collective action.
Conclusion
The unravelling of civilization, as explored by the Jerusalem Post, is a sobering reflection on the perils of egocentric ideals in the realm of world politics. The article poignantly illustrates how prioritizing national interests above global well-being, fueled by an “us vs. them” mentality, breeds mistrust, fuels conflict, and ultimately undermines the very fabric of international cooperation. This myopic worldview, driven by an insatiable thirst for power and dominance, leaves little room for empathy, compromise, or the pursuit of common goals. The implications of this trend are profound. A world fractured by egocentricity risks descending into chaos, where cooperation crumbles and survival becomes a zero-sum game. The interconnectedness of our world, from economic interdependence to shared environmental challenges, demands a shift in perspective. Sustainable progress and the preservation of our shared future hinges on our ability to transcend national boundaries and embrace a more inclusive, collaborative approach to global governance. Can we rise above the siren song of self-interest and forge a new path based on mutual respect and shared responsibility? The answer lies not in the hands of politicians or diplomats alone, but in the collective conscience of humanity. The time for introspection and action is now.