by Naresh Jotwani, Jayram Daya, R. Srinivasan

This is an attempt to summarize, using a broad sweep, global events over the past few centuries. Viewpoints may differ, of course, but it is hoped that the summary does capture the essentials.

The period has been marked by vigorous, brutal world-wide conquests radiating out from Europe, bringing enormous depredation upon those who could not defend themselves. Many European countries participated, their collective conquered lands lying all over the world. Better ships and weapons, credit-based finance, duplicity, deceit, back-stabbing, cruelty and other such ‘tools of the brutal trade’ achieved the conquests.

Examples are found all over: the western hemisphere, fate of the native Americans, Africa, Asia, the African slave trade, the Opium wars in China, and so on. Until WWI, the Ottoman empire protected itself from depredation, but the war brought about the end of that empire.

Europeans seem to harbour a supercilious attitude towards Slavic people who, by and large, did not participate in the bloody feast of European conquests. For Europeans, the Slavic lands were simply that many more territories to conquer. They tried more than once to conquer Russia, the largest and richest of Slavic lands, but Napoleon and Hitler both failed miserably.

The phase of history commonly described as ‘colonization’ is better described as ‘brutal conquests and subjugation’. In parallel with their conquests, and as inevitably as night follows day, the cruel global marauders also fought amongst themselves. Their brutal internecine wars culminated in the two World Wars. Since then the recently migrated ‘trans-Atlantic’ erstwhile Europeans have taken the lead in global domination.

Sophisticated global financial and soft power techniques have marked the period after WWII, which is also marked by unending misadventures – in Vietnam, Afghanistan and elsewhere. It seems as though the physical courage of the warrior has been replaced by financial cunning, dirty tricks, slick story-telling and propaganda. Fearsome warrior spirit is long lost; what remains in its place is cunning, deceit, double-dealing, bluff and bluster, all in the service of unending greed and lust.

Huge technological advances have marked this period, but the scientific discoveries underlying the technology came earlier. To understand this, one only needs to think about the difference in character between great scientists such as Maxwell, Faraday and Darwin, and prominent businessmen such as Henry Ford, Rockefeller and Bill Gates.

But things have changed rapidly since the financial crash of 2008 and, more recently, start of the Ukraine conflict. The post-WWII global order is breaking down, and with it also the long period of western hegemony. There are many strands in this unfolding tectonic change. We are considering only the changes occurring within western countries, and what the changes signify.

Surveying these countries, one gets the feeling that their own past deeds are beginning to haunt and confuse them. Descendants of ruthless robbers may wish to live differently, more peacefully, more sensibly; they may not see themselves as ruthless robbers. For some time, financial shenanigans, PR and bluff can obfuscate reality, but that strategy has its limits.

In the Internet era, old-fashioned PR doesn’t work too well. The ‘return on investment’ of recent western misadventures has been negative. Goings-on in the world’s second largest democracy – the so-called ‘promised land’ – say that all is not well. The age-old trick of currency debasement is being employed, in a desperate bid to shore up the economy and create a mirage of wealth.

The rest of the world is beginning to catch on. To bear fruit, even God’s promises need the soil of sound human character. It is not so difficult to distinguish between fast-talking scam artists and true well-wishers. Who will come to one’s help in a time of need? A humble local resident, who belongs to ‘the Global South’, or the captivating foreigner one meets at a party?

A time of great change is the time to reflect upon one’s long-term self-interest. Does one really wish to participate in ‘casino capitalism’, or does one believe in ‘right livelihood’ and reliable communities? The truth lies deep within, and not – as the PR megaphones claim – within think tanks, media houses, or Ivy League universities. One must not let others pontificate about where one’s self-interest lies. Nobody cares about children a tenth as much as their parents do. A whisper deep within oneself is far more reliable than propaganda pumped out through megaphones. Is it not obvious that the megaphones are desperately hawking something?

What is happening ‘over there’ seems antagonistic to the spirit of सत्यमेव जयते। It appears that falsehood and cynicism carry the day; but that is false perception. Inevitably, empires collapse. What eventually happens ‘over there’ will re-inforce our faith in सत्यमेव जयते।

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Historical significance

The convergence of ‘Gold, God, and Glory’ created a potent force for European expansion. While this era marked the beginning of global trade networks and the rise of European economic dominance, it was also marked by enormous human tragedy. The era witnessed conflict, violence, subjugation and oppression of indigenous peoples, as European powers imposed their will and systems upon new territories.

‘Gold, God, and Glory’ is the historical shorthand for the primary motivations behind European exploration and conquest from the 15th to the 18th centuries. It was motivated by the desire for wealth, the spread of Christianity and the desire for power and glory.

Gold refers to the economic drive for material gain through acquisition of resources such as spices, slaves, and precious metals.

God represents the religious zeal to spread Christianity and ‘convert’ non-Christians, a motivation fuelled by the militant crusading tradition of the time.

Glory refers to the competition among rival European empires for wealth, prestige, power and territory.

This combination of factors created a powerful drive for European empires to explore, expand and exploit. It led to the establishment of colonies and global trade routes, which had a profound and lasting impact on world economies. The pursuit of these goals invariably resulted in conflict, oppression and horrendous violence against indigenous populations.

It is precisely this triad of motivations which profoundly reshaped the world over these few centuries.

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Technology and its impact

The power of technology was initially harnessed by the marauders only to serve their endless rapacity. But rapid developments in technology, and especially the Internet, has set in motion a fundamental shift in the power equations between the west and the Global South. Democratized knowledge and information have created a level playing field.

In parallel, endless greed of the financial class, to maximize their profits at the cost of societal well-being, has caused a decline in the quality of life in the west. This has enabled other societies to catch up and compete effectively. The only way the west responds this situation is by creating continuous unrest in other countries through their well-honed craft of cunning and chicanery, so as to preserve its eroding hegemony.

Not surprisingly, declining western standards of life have led to a backlash in their own backyard. As a result, the world is now staring at major upheavals in one country after another. The process will continue in the short to medium term, resulting either in a global upheaval or in a compromise which preserves a semblance of smouldering peace. Either way, the accumulated tectonic pressures will work their way out before a new multi-polar equilibrium sets in.