What is the most important issue in world politics?

1. Education is the most fundamental issue that needs to be addressed on a global scale. Every pivotal humanitarian and societal issue can be traced back to a direct lack of education in an area that naturally led to some kind of political or health-related disaster. A primary focus on pursuing a high literacy rate and carrying the value of education on for generations can prove to be immeasurably beneficial for nations as independent beings, and for nations interacting globally. The developing nations most in need of aid are lacking in education and there is a general consensus that along with a strong pursuit of higher education comes a surge out of the cycle of poverty and stronger replacement levels. In Garrett Hardin’s essay, “Lifeboat Ethics”, Hardin discusses humanitarian and social policies that have permeated the airwaves since impoverished nations have made their plight public. He calls on the common Chinese proverb that differentiates between teaching a man to fish and simply giving a man a fish. The conclusion from this is that education creates a foundation for a sustainable future. For example, the HIV/AIDS epidemic that is sweeping across developing nations can be traced back to a lack of sex education and little to no precaution taken for immunity or safe practices. Societies become unsustainable as globalization takes precedence and communities find themselves overwhelmed with technology and education that outpace their own.

2. Education falls to the background as struggling nations try to sustain themselves on quick fixes, such as immediate foreign aid and policy that provides large influxes of monetary gain to faltering economies. However, as communities become more educated, they build a larger foundation for themselves to gain a deeper understanding of a stable economy and fuller employment. The more emphasis placed on education, the further a society can move towards perfect literacy. The advances in technology and a more “global” society, the most pivotal crux of world politics, lie in the educational advancement of society, and ultimately move a society into becoming a major player in global politics.

3. Many issues can resolve themselves as a stronger focus is placed on education. Politics and elections rely on an educated public choosing representatives based on informed decisions, and weak governments that operate through corruption find themselves relying on an uneducated public that cannot make informed or capable decisions. Politics on a global scale become affected when populations en masse cannot make well-informed decisions that will better their own nation. A fundamental understanding of how issues work and what can possibly resolve them can be attributed to placing a greater and more meaningful focus on a better education system that makes itself universal.