Principled Pragmatism
I feel confounded by the ongoing state of international political shenanigans. By the endless ranting of a man-baby with more power than should be in the hands of one person, never mind one with the self control of a hyperactive toddler. I listen to the news, read up on how the Australian government is responding to the demolition of the established order – and my chest hurts.
Why is it Canada that has the fortitude to respond, to say ‘no more’, to try to divert the current tidal wave of ever-changing global politics? Where is Australia in all this? Are we to believe that we’re so reliant on one international ‘partner’ that we will roll over and accept whatever is thrown at us and at the world more broadly?
Where was OUR Prime Minister when Venezuela was illegally invaded? Where was the condemnation of a clear violation of international law that resulted in the kidnapping of a head of state (whether or whether he isn’t a worthwhile human is besides the point) in order to hijack oil reserves?
Australia has stood firm on the question of the invasion of Ukraine, providing assistance to the regime in the ongoing struggle against the Russian forces. But how long do we “monitor developments” in Venezuela before condemning it for what it most assuredly is? Until Greenland is, in fact, invaded? Until troops march on Canada? Are we then as spineless as the ‘mother country’, which is still fence-sitting on this question? At what price does our ‘strategic alliance’ and ‘special relationship’ with a bully come?
All of this is part of a much greater whole. A terrifying whole that (understandably) makes people want to pull the covers over their heads and wait things out. But where will that leave the world? I fear the answer is in subjugated chaos – not a great vision of the future, really. Like most Australians, I have no desire for this sunburnt country of ours to be a menu item for a toddler tantrum.
As President Carney recently stated in his address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, “The middle powers must act together because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.” The world order as we know it has changed, no matter what our nostalgic preferences may be, and that there is no ‘go-back’ button. I get it that the pathway ahead is littered with political minefields. Even so, it’s well past time for our elected official to take a long, clear look at what fence sitting is likely to result in and to then actively and pragmatically choose a pathway that will best benefit not just Australia, but the world as a whole.