Is the word Superpower relevant?

 

Is the word Superpower relevant?

The world has been captivated by the term "superpower," with only a few nations being labelled as such. However, it is time to abandon these superlative descriptions and reconsider their significance. In today's world, it matters less whether a nation is considered a superpower and more how peaceful it is. Indeed, we should term nations that are peaceful as Peace power.

Countries like the United States have a history of military interventions in places like Vietnam and Afghanistan, leading to generations of refugees and significant deprivation of fundamental human rights. In the name of power, superpowers have even tested their weapons on smaller nations.

During the COVID pandemic, we witnessed these so-called superpowers struggling to cope. The early deaths and chaos around the world raised an important question: Did the title of superpower matter as they scrambled for solutions?

Both the USA and Russia are burdened with substantial debts. According to estimates from the Bank of Russia, the external debt of the Russian Federation as of March 31, 2024, totalled $304 billion, while the current debt of the USA stands at $34 trillion. No individual, organization, or nation can sustain itself in perpetual debt. Just as an individual’s credit score declines with debt, so does that of a country. Consequently, a nation laden with significant long-term debt cannot truly be considered a superpower. Owning nuclear weapons, advanced ships, tanks, and other military equipment does not define a superpower; rather, it often poses a threat to both it and others.

The United States is the world's largest arms exporter, accounting for 42% of global arms sales from 2019 to 2023 (SIPRI Arms Transfer Database, March 2024). Russia ranks as the third-largest arms exporter, responsible for 11% of global arms sales during the same period.

This data highlights how these so-called superpowers thrive on exporting conflict and generating unrest around the world. It is equally alarming to see Asian countries aspiring to join the ranks of arms exporters by selling weapons to smaller nations.

Some nations rank high in terms of peace and have low debt levels, yet they are not recognized as superpowers, and their contributions often go unnoticed.

The new global order may involve artificial intelligence, but we need to prioritize "peace intelligence." If necessary, the world should unite to establish a system that fosters peace on our planet, among nations, organizations, and families. Without this initiative, we risk creating a scenario where both human intelligence and artificial intelligence exist, but peace remains elusive.

Using the word "peace" only in the context of condolences is meaningless; it should be a way of life and the foundation of our world order.

M.L. Narendra Kumar