2021 World Affairs Wrap-upNews - Arirang News
First, a reversal of democracy.
Less than a decade after Myanmar transitioned from a military junta to an elected government, progress towards a democratic society crumbled on the morning of February first.
The military staged a coup, once again seizing control and detaining civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
It began brutally clamping down on citizens who flooded the streets in peaceful protest.
August saw another blow to democracy after U.S. and NATO troops withdrew from Afghanistan.
The Taliban swept across the country and captured the capital of Kabul, stoking fear that the fundamentalist group would once again begin a reign of terror, particularly for women and girls.
There are also concerns that ongoing internal clashes between militant groups will further harm the safety and human rights of the Afghan people.
"The last couple years have been a terrible time for democracy. We look at the freedom index and see far more countries slipping back towards autocracy than actually moving towards democracy. Not helped at all by four years of Donald Trump, where the U.S. just abdicated its global leadership."
Both Afghanistan and Myanmar pose a risk of more authoritarian regimes and violent domestic conflict, opening the door to a new horizon of great uncertainty for the future of democracy.
European politics is also undergoing seismic changes, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel leaves office after 16 years.
Considered the de facto leader of the European Union, Merkel leaves behind a legacy of pragmatic politics and moral leadership.
With her guidance, the EU fared through several times of hardship including the migration crisis, the global financial crisis, Brexit and COVID-19.
However, her departure leaves a leadership vacuum in the regional bloc, as well as unresolved issues including the rule of law and economic imbalances that may undermine European unity.
The change in Europe coincides with a general shift in world politics from a focus on transatlantic affairs to the Indo-Pacific.
Following the United States' pivot to the region, the United Kingdom and the European Union have released their own policy guidelines, branding China as a strategic competitor.
Experts say the Indo-Pacific will see the rise of smaller so-called "mini-lateral" groups of countries working together to reinforce maritime
security, collaborate in trade and new technologies, as well as reinforce shared values.
But once again, the growing rivalry between the global superpowers, the militarisation of the South China Sea, and differences over human rights will create a precarious balance of competition and cooperation here in the Asia Pacific.
Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
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