As I enter mid-life, and found a brief moment in the sea between Bintan and Singapore.
Where the stakes are higher, the responsbility immense.
I was reading the Wikipedia article on the Spanish war of succession, left beind on a forgotten Chrome tab.
And, despite a time when defence stocks are at an all time high.
I did notice, there was an inherent trend towards unification. After all these years, all these times.
Does this not point towards a (directional) wish towards unification?
Lets consider the major actors currently:
- US, a formerly fractured group of colonies of different european origins; now (and amazing masterstroke of the Louisiana Purchase)
- China, a region beleaguered by war over thousands of years. Now looking more unified than ever.
- Russia: another massive unification undertaking over centuries
- Europe: Ala the spanish war of succession and inumerable conflcits since’
The middle east, Africa, south america, southeast asia - perhaps less relevant to the current major needle movers for conflcit, but still considerations and battlegrounds to consider.
As cycles inevitably end a chapter, and begin anew. It pits now the strength of unity against the fracturing of institutions built continously over the years (and the overlapping of certain regions: Ukraine, Taiwan)
But theres a niggling hope as the texture of the tensions differ if I look back at history.
I don’t see middle plains of China being a battleground of warring states. Nor do I see France being worried by Hapsburg encirclement in Spain and Austria/Germany.
In the US, it occurs to me that the divide is predominantly socio-economic, rather than one of being anti-american in itself. (perhaps different intepretations of being American, but not really with a desire to not be American)
I’m not too sure of the true situation in Russia, and so won’t comment nor spculate (could very well be more optimistic or pessimistic than the information i read makes it out to be.)
Thus is this battle of grand unification; would a vested interested for common prosperity eventually prevail? (Would a more Chinese ideology prevail). Afterall, as a Singaporean, I could see this extension.
For doing good by the people, by the world, must surely be a reason (idealistic as it may be) to place people in Power.
Perhaps an export model of capability governance: should be county, regional governance. Not bound by corruption or of being a non-capitalistic, non-poltiical colonialism method; but one built on the common prosperity of people, and by extension, the world.
Combine an entrepreneur, who sees the opportunity and potential of a vast barren land; to work it into its competitive advantage. A governor, who leverages this advantage and distributes it fairly, with a rule of law.
A moment of my imagination, for one now too embroiled in the worries of the day by day, week by week.