Comment by exceptione
13 days ago
> The rules are of the status quo powers (matching their political cultures), by the status quo powers, for the status quo powers
That might seem so, and all individuals have some degree of hypocrisy at times, the more a body of multiple countries. Without rules this devolves into warring tribes and fiefdoms, a lesson the societies in the west had learned themselves.
Everyone is invited to be critical and keep your representatives in check. When the people speak loud and clear about what they accept and what not, representatives will have to listen.
If you have rights, use it or lose it.
I will add that Western elites were handcuffed by those international rules, it went against their interests. So no, it is also a self-restriction. The west certainly did have the power to exploit other countries, but instead self-restricted by abolishing colonies. There are certainly cases of ifs and buts, but the whole idea is that you stand by your values.
You mentioned the US making transgressions. That they get this room internally is certainly a problem of society and the state of ethics. Let´s not devolve in relativism, it will make things worse!
I generally agree; I'm not saying the status quo power - the US-led rules-based international order - is completely corrupt. They do follow the rules sufficientlty to have legitimacy, and there are many good things in those rules, such as univeral human rights, which have accomplished good outcomes. Overall, the world from WWII to about 2015 was the 'best' it's ever been - an explosion of freedom, security, and prosperity.
At the same time, there is some of the same status-quo-power corruption going on.
> Overall, the world from WWII to about 2015 was the 'best' it's ever been - an explosion of freedom, security, and prosperity.
Good point. If we do not halt the corrupting forces we will loose out on the above.