The Collapse of Moral Authority in Global Governance: Rebuilding Diplomatic Ethics in the Age of Power Rivalries
Abstract
The study provides an understanding of the decay of Moral Authority in Global Governance. Furthermore, it provides an analysis of contemporary geopolitical conflicts that include the Africa's problems, the Sudan crisis, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the Israel-Palestine conflict. It also gives a summary of the escalating rivalry between the US and China, which highlights the diminished role of humanitarian standards in conjunction with diplomatic manipulation. This article's main argument is that major global powers will increasingly prioritize coercive interests over moral obligations, making it harder for many of the major international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to uphold international law, protect vulnerable civilians, and handle escalating levels of conflict. As selective sanctions, proxy support and arbitrary enforcement of legal standards are widening the gap between countries, the world is moving towards a new and bloc-based geopolitical structure. In this new structure, countries rely heavily on military alliances to provide them with the necessary security, rather than relying on multilateral approaches to achieve their goals. As a result, this geopolitical environment has created greater fragility for developing and underdeveloped countries, giving rise to an environment that presents a multitude of strategic opportunities for countries that adjust their diplomacy, build regional partnerships and adopt principled foreign policy positions. Ultimately, the article posits that diplomatic ethics, defined as a combination of power and moral restraint, must be re-established if the credibility of international conflict management is to be restored and a more stable global order is to be created.
Keywords: Global Governance, Moral Authority, Diplomatic Ethics, Power Rivalries, International Relations, Normative Challenges
