Conflict resolution and national progress

Abstract

We are living in times of great and rapid change, dangerous times when the possibility of finding civilised solutions to the world's problems should appear slim. Yet, anyone with a head, as well as a heart should have learnt a great deal from the lessons of the past two decades. The Vietnam war is one such lesson and it appears unlikely that armed intervention in the internal affairs of another country or intervention by intelligence operations will be hastily embarked upon. Political movements which have prospered on foreign funds will now have to look to other sources. An American President has come forward in support of human rights throughout the world, an old song, you might say, but this time it is the regimes in power that are under attack, not the movements seeking change. Is it possible that poor countries of the world can restructure their societies peacefully without the ruling elite being provided with money, arms and advisers to maintain an existing order? That opportunity exists for at least a short time but a great confrontation between rich and poor nations over scarce resources may bring us back to the barborism of intervention.