Opinion: Will democracy survive? Invasions and crimes against humanity must stop
Putin’s unprovoked invasion of what had become the sovereign nation of Ukraine is in the pattern of invasions that we saw by Hitler and Japan of surrounding countries. A major difference is that Ukraine so far is giving strong and successful resistance with the backing of the United States and NATO partners. It is crucial that this invasion is stopped. Not only is the principle of national sovereignty at stake, but democracy itself is at stake. The achievements in the twentieth century of defeating dictators and making progress among the family of nations through the collapse of colonialism are also at stake.
For many centuries, nations sought to conquer and dominate other nations. We saw this taking place on a worldwide basis in the colonial era, when many Western nations explored the world and established colonies in many lands. Thankfully, the colonizing countries were either bankrupted or defeated by World War II. America gained independence from Britain in the Revolutionary War of 1776.
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However, just as Spain and Portugal overran the indigenous peoples of South America, America overran the indigenous peoples in North America. America even joined the colonizing nations when it took over the Spanish colonies in the Philippines and the Caribbean. However, the League of Nations, established after World War I, attempted to further the concept of protecting independent sovereign nations, but the effort ultimately failed. Nevertheless, World War II, followed by the formation of the United Nations along with the collapse of Western colonial power, brought forward the recognition of the rights of nations to be free from invasion and domination by other nations.
Russia invaded a nation that is very conscious of its independence and its democratic government and society. Although Russia emerged as a nation from the collapse of the Soviet Union, with China as its most notable ally, its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine challenges the world’s progress toward a rules-based international order that was established after World War II with the leadership of the United States. The United Nations is not equipped to physically oppose Russia’s action, but the United States and allied nations within NATO are using United Nations ideals to physically support Ukraine’s remarkable resistance. In addition to its invasion, Russian forces are committing crimes against humanity by bombing civilian targets, such as schools and hospitals, and torturing prisoners.
Ukraine, with America and its allied nations, must succeed in turning around the Russian invasion. It is crucial that Americans realize the seriousness of this hour and the task before us. The world faces an important turning point: whether the age of nations invading other nations will continue or the day when nations invading other nations will come to an end. Tied with this turning point is whether or not democracy will succeed and spread further.
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The United States has had a special role, especially since World War II and the wars in ensuing years, in clarifying the rules-based international order and preventing another World War. Still, Russia has the ability to initiate a wider conflict by using nuclear weapons.
Only the United States with its supporting allies can turn the corner toward a world where invasions by one country of another country can be brought to an end. Ukraine has set an example of bravery and determination to maintain the independence of their democratic nation from being absorbed by Russia. It is clear that Putin wants to reestablish Russia’s empire and domination of other nations that existed in the past.
Adding to the crisis of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, China is threatening to invade Taiwan. Taiwan is an established democracy in contrast to China. The world has seen what China did to protestors in Hong Kong, as well to the Uyghurs of western China. These were clearly very anti-democratic actions. Russia’s and China’s actions have demonstrated that we are not only at a turning point at stopping invasions of one nation by another, but also in the ability of democracy to survive and spread in the world.
If China sees that Russia’s invasion is stopped, it will be discouraged from seeking to expand to Taiwan. If the invasion by Russia is not stopped, America’s stand for freedom, national sovereignty, the rule of law, and international peace and security in the world will be seriously imperiled. Any weakening of resolve will be noted by the world and discourage our fellow democracies and our allies.
Rev. Robert L. Montgomery Ph.D., lives in Black Mountain.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Opinion: Invasions and crimes against humanity must stop
