Siddhi Dole
Life always leads us to crossroads just like in a maze. It depends upon your choices which either take you to a dead end or another crossroad that can potentially take you to the exit or maybe another crossroad? This cycle goes on and on till we reach somewhere that some refer to as their destination while others may see it as a dead end. In such a scenario, every small decision can take a massive toll on various things. Such is the nature of international affairs. It is something
close to a paradox which has its effects seep deep, quietly while getting a seat on the first page of your local daily.
To a layman who is sipping morning tea while glancing through the newspaper it wouldn’t be a major news but it might not be the case in reality. Consider the black gold for instance. Just the thought of petrol hike can make people gasp let alone the actual hike. Keeping aside any internal factors, the prices fluctuate mainly because of the turmoil in the Middle East with Saudi Arabia and Iraq being our major suppliers of crude oil. This affects all the economies that come in its periphery. Then begins a cycle of despair which results in hike in transportation inducing an increase in the cost of production of goods and services, leading to phenomenon called inflation or can discourage demand, savings, investments, production, exports and bring down the standard of living of the people and a lot more. This is just an outcome out of the many that can adversely affect the citizens of a country. Another, commodity that can be lumped together with this example is gold. India is one of the largest importers of gold and governs the area of savings as this non-productive asset is used as a mode of savings which again, if messed with then can affect the people. Linked to this is the ever fluctuating stock markets followed by financial crisis that can be just as bad as war leaving a country in shambles. Bitcoin and other crypto-currencies have opened new doors to prosperity and has been the hot topic on the global scenes. While some are welcoming it wholeheartedly, others stick to the conventional methods of growth. It can prove to be tool that can visibly bring about development and improve the daily lives of many but it comes at the cost of its anonymity and ambiguity. International organisations have been making efforts to maintain global stability and improve the condition of its subjects.
A simple agreement dealing with agriculture can change the very outlook of looking at it and boost growth. Organisations such as United Nations, World Trade Organisation, International Monetary Funds, etc. have been working for the same. And all this would be incomplete without a healthy helping of politics that now serves to be an integral part of international affairs.
After the Lehman brothers case and the Asian financial crisis, another financial crisis is being speculated. Any such form of upheaval sends tremors across the world and for countries that are unable to cope with it have scars left behind.
The effects of such incidents tend to trickle down to the vulnerable sections of the society faster than schemes and policies implemented for their benefit. While we cannot avoid everything that is going to take place, we can certainly take precautionary measures to, if not, prevent then at least withstand them. It is only then that there will be changes for the better instead of wars and nuclear proliferation.
