The preceding century has witnessed an unprecedented global hegemony of Western philosophical frameworks—a paradigm presented as the panacea for the tribulations of the human condition. Yet, much as pharmacological interventions are constrained by localized physiological variances, the toxicity inherent in these imported ideologies has catalyzed political instability in the periphery, which is now—with inexorable momentum—migrating back toward the Western core.
I prefer to view the undulating trajectory of human civilization as a continuous, flowing current. In this contemporary epoch, we are often seduced by the conceit that the modern nation-state structure and its rigid borders are eternal fixtures. Yet, a cursory reflection upon the recent past reveals a landscape of profound flux.
The root of the dilemma is, in truth, existential. Earth possesses a finite quantum of resources. Human want originates at the precise moment a desire for something novel emerges—and human desire, by its very nature, is effectively infinite. Compounding this is the perennial challenge of equitable distribution. Here, brute force intervenes to subvert equilibrium, fueling the ebbs and flows of global wealth distribution. Indeed, the entirety of our political and social architecture is merely a satellite to the pursuit of these resources.
To address the core argument: it is undeniable that the last century has witnessed an unprecedented expansion of Western philosophy across the globe. This hegemony has been presented as the definitive panacea for the tribulations of humankind. However, much like a medicinal compound that fails to account for idiosyncratic biological realities, the toxic byproducts of this singular intellectual tradition have begun to manifest—starting in distant peripheries and steadily encroaching upon the West itself.
This reflection was prompted by the news of Emmanuel Macron being slapped and a subsequent commentary by Islamic scholar Abdul Hai Muhammad Saifullah:
"While being slapped is an indignity, the slap Macron received is, in a sense, a badge of honor! For a president to be within reach of the common citizen implies that he remains accessible and accountable. He became the target of public ire precisely because he engaged directly with the populace. When leaders retreat behind multi-layered ramparts, they cease to be 'presidents of the people' or responsible stewards of the state."
The metaphorical construction of these "ramparts" is, outside of the Euro-Atlantic core, a commonplace reality. One suspects that, following this incident, the instinct for open engagement with the citizenry will likely wither. Thus, the walls will inevitably rise.
As for the assailant, his act was undoubtedly rooted in a profound sense of grievance—a grievance inextricably linked to that persistent inequality in resource distribution. One might argue that the region in question had previously maintained a semblance of equilibrium, but that stability is now clearly in decline.
Social excellence, therefore, is not the permanent property of any single region. It follows the trajectory of a sine curve. No human-conceived philosophy is absolute. It is precisely because of our inherent fallibility that a state of perfect, enduring equilibrium remains elusive. Upon reflection, the two initial premises I proposed align perfectly with this broader narrative.
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Nazin Hasan
Author & Contributor, MaroonPaper
Contributing insightful research and analytical essays on law, politics, history, and international affairs for MaroonPaper.
