The State of Humanity: A Reflection on Interests and Ethics

Mubasher Mir

In the contemporary global order, the dominance of interests over ethics has become increasingly visible. Both individuals and institutions appear driven more by self-preservation and strategic gain than by the pursuit of collective welfare. This shift is reflected in international indices such as the Human Development Index (HDI), which, despite measuring progress through life expectancy, education, and income, reveals disturbing disparities between economic strength and human well-being.

The Prioritization of State Interests

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has long emphasized that HDI rankings often mirror national economic clout more than the actual quality of life of citizens. Nations, while investing heavily in their defence and security apparatus, often neglect essential services like education, healthcare, and social welfare.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reported that global military expenditure surged to $2.24 trillion in 2022, dominated by the United States, China, and Russia. This figure dwarfs the allocations for sectors directly contributing to human welfare.

The Role of Powerful Countries in Major Political Conflicts

Powerful countries wield significant influence over global governance structures, yet their decisions frequently prioritize geopolitical advantage over humanitarian responsibility. The international arms trade, dominated by leading economies, continues to fuel conflicts, exacerbate instability, and empower regimes that commit human rights violations.

Selective silence also underscores this dynamic. While powers readily intervene in conflicts that threaten their interests, they often remain indifferent to humanitarian crises elsewhere.

Consequences of Prioritizing Interests Over Ethics

The pursuit of interests often leads to human rights abuses, with widespread suppression of free expression, restrictions on assembly, and systemic discrimination. Democratic backsliding is also prevalent, with the erosion of civil liberties, curtailment of media freedom, and weakening of checks and balances. Poverty and inequality persist, with many countries struggling to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of universal health coverage.

The Illusion of Peace and Security

Despite astronomical defence budgets, the world has not become safer. The Global Peace Index (GPI) shows that levels of global peacefulness have steadily declined over the past decade. Violent conflicts, terrorism, and militarization have destabilized several regions, undermining the very security that nations claim to be safeguarding.

Democracy and Governance in Question

Democracy, often celebrated as a universal ideal, is itself under strain. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index 2022 reports widespread democratic regression, with 71 countries experiencing backsliding in recent years. This regression is marked by the erosion of civil liberties, curtailment of media freedom, and the weakening of checks and balances.

Post-COVID Authoritarianism and Suppression of Rights

The COVID-19 pandemic not only reshaped public health priorities but also redefined the relationship between states and their citizens. Under the banner of emergency management, many governments expanded their authority, introducing measures that, while initially justified as necessary for survival, have since evolved into mechanisms of control.

The narrative of “state interest” has grown stronger in the post-pandemic world. Governments often justify restrictions on freedom of movement, assembly, and expression as essential for security or stability. However, these measures have in many cases transformed into tools for silencing dissent.

Citizens demanding justice, activists struggling for their rights, or marginalized groups calling for recognition are frequently branded as “separatists,” “foreign agents,” or even “terrorists.” This tightening grip on civil liberties reflects a deeper global trend: the steady erosion of citizenship rights. From digital surveillance to arbitrary detentions, states increasingly demand compliance while punishing dissent.

Such developments raise pressing questions. If raising one’s voice in support of victims—whether at home or abroad—is treated as disloyalty, what space remains for human rights advocacy? If defending the oppressed is criminalized, can justice ever prevail?

The Fate of the Suppressed

History demonstrates that oppressed communities cannot indefinitely rely on external saviors. While international solidarity has moral value, the reality is that powerful states often weigh interventions against strategic interests rather than ethical imperatives.

The sobering truth is that liberation rarely arrives from outside; it must be forged within. Suppressed and marginalized groups must recognize their agency. Without collective organization, resilience, and self-reliance, their struggles risk being subsumed by the very powers that seek to silence them.

The Search for Ethics and Humanity

In this climate of competing interests, ethics and humanity appear scarce. Yet, history reminds us that societies thrive only when guided by moral responsibility. The search for leadership grounded in ethics remains urgent. A true leader is not one who amplifies the state’s power, but one who places human dignity at the heart of governance.

Conclusion

The world stands at a defining juncture. The prevailing narrative of interests—measured in military spending, geopolitical maneuvering, and short-term economic gain—overshadows the imperative of ethics. Yet genuine progress lies not in the accumulation of power but in the nurturing of human welfare, justice, and accountability.

To reshape the trajectory of global development, states must reorient their priorities. A balanced framework—where security does not eclipse social investment, and where economic ambition does not override ethical responsibility—is essential. The post-COVID era must not become a justification for authoritarianism, but rather an opportunity to reimagine governance rooted in dignity, freedom, and humanity.