Oscar van Heerden | The dangers of a further fragmented global order

The grandiose plan post World War Two that gave us all some modicum of a safer and united world order through globalisation is but over, argues Oscar van Heerden.

In my chosen field of study, International Relations, various theories govern the discipline. Among others are realism, liberalism, marxism, and constructivism, of which many scholars argue that realism is the most dominant theory.

I won't bore you with the description of each but suffice to say that realism states that the world is anarchic, there exists no global power that can govern such anarchy, and hence, it remains the primary task of the Nation-State to navigate such a world through means of military and economic power. In short, realists believe that you are on your own and that the bigger your stick, the safer you will be in this world.