OUR elders knew well that the world of politics is characterised by the maxim ‘might is right’. This means that those who are more powerful can do what they wish. With their power, strength and authority, they treat the world like a wolf treats a lamb. In Aesop’s Fables, a wolf wants to eat a lamb. Although the lamb presents logical arguments regarding its innocence, the wolf ignores them and eats it anyway, using its superior strength to overcome the victim.

Similarly, in human history many rulers remained intoxicated with power. They set the standard for truth, law and justice, regardless of the ideal of fairness. They tried to devoured their opponents’ land and resources. Most of them exercised power unjustly to snatch the wealth and resources of their weaker neighbours, which they considered their ‘right’ to occupy. Consequently, these trends have trickled down to the present day.

At present, we live in an era of development, but at the same time we face the jungle raj — in cities and towns — a state of widespread lawlessness, chaos, rampant crime and ineffective governance, often linked to corruption and the criminal-politician nexus. This paradox — living in a technologically advanced era........

© Dawn