By Dr. Sawraj Singh

The world is passing through a very serious crisis. The main reason for the crisis is the decline of the western capitalist system. This crisis is not only economic,  but is global and has social, familial, moral, ethical and cultural aspects. The bitter truth is that the western civilization is in a state of terminal decline. The present state of western society can be compared to the Roman empire just before its collapse. Whereas the west is in a state of decline, the east is on the rise. The present unipolar world order that is led by hegemonic America and is western dominated will soon be replaced by a multipolar world order led by Russia, India and China. Right now we are passing through a transition period. I feel that the present western capitalist system cannot last until the year 2050 and will undergo a fundamental change before that. The transition periods can be very tumultuous. Therefore, the present world is so crisis-ridden.                                                                                                                                     

Another factor that is contributing to the present turmoil is that the three countries that are going to lead the world to a new multipolar world order are finding it difficult to reach a common  minimum program about their roles in the transition. Whereas Russia and China have been able to reach a common understanding about ending American hegemony and western domination, India is not totally convinced that this is good for it and for the world. India is not comfortable with China replacing America as the most powerful country in the world. Therefore, India has joined the quadrilateral alliance of America, Japan, Australia and India to contain China. India also seems to be planning to join the expansion of the G-7 that will exclude China. China will perceive that as another American move to contain China. 

India has an ongoing serious border dispute with China that was inherited through the colonial legacy. These factors are preventing Russia, India and China from providing an effective leadership for the transition from the present unipolar world order to a multipolar world order, and is also aggravating the present turmoil in the world. Russia can play a vital role in resolving the present crisis. Russia has very good relations with both India and China. India has always felt that Russia is a reliable and trusted friend. Russia can convince India that despite of its differences with China and its concerns about the rise of China, it is in the fundamental interest of the Indian people to change the present western dominated world order to a multipolar world order. Russia, India, China or any other non-western country cannot get a fair and equal treatment in the western dominated world order.                                                       

 As the crisis of western capitalism is deepening , it is developing a tendency of moving toward fascism. Russia played the crucial role and paid the highest price in fighting the German fascists. Russia just celebrated the 75th anniversary of its victory over the German fascists. Today, Russia is playing a leading role in forging a united front against American hegemony and western domination. It appears to have a solid support from China. If Russia can persuade India to stay neutral in the cold war between America and China and join the efforts to change the present unipolar world order to a multipolar world order based upon fairness, equality and mutual respect, then the transition can be peaceful. Otherwise we run the risk of a Third World War and the Indian Subcontinent becoming the arena for this most devastating war.

Dr. Sawraj Singh, MD F.I.C.S. is the Chairman of the Washington State Network for Human Rights and Chairman of the Central Washington Coalition for Social Justice. He can be reached at sawrajsingh@hotmail.com.