THE world is full of paradoxes. The events in world politics are so complex that these are sometimes self-contradictory. Let us take a look at two case studies. One relates to the policies ofdisarmament and business of war that is practised by the United States, and the other relates to the recent hosting of the international climate change conference of the United Nations by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The US claims that it is known for its democratic, pro-disarmament and liberal policies. The country once formed a base for the League of Nations and later on the UN, but is now earning massive profits from wars across the globe.
A shocking report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) recently described the US as one of the largest arms spenders in 2022.
Since then, its weapons industry is in a hyperactive mode amid Russia-Ukraine war and then by the genocide of Palestinians by Israel.
This proves the assertion of German pacifist Karl Liebknecht who had long ago remarked that for capitalism, `war and peace are business, and nothing but business`. This is precisely why it is a global paradox that the US apparently promotes peace and ceasefire in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, but actually makes money massive money selling arms and ammunitions around the globe.
As for the UAE`s act of hosting the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP28), the paradox lies in the fact thatithappenstobe aleading producer of fossil fuel, which makes it a significant contributor to the dangerous greenhouse emissions. Hosting an international meeting on climate change while planning to pump out an additional million barrels of oil per day by the year 2030 was, indeed, self-contradictory.
