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A World Without Barriers

'Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls' - Rabindranath Tagore (Where the mind is without fear)

One hundred ninety-five countries exist today. They shouldn't. Today, the world is more fragmented than ever. Of course, we mustn't grumble. Due to the break-up of the European states' immense empires and the increased dissatisfaction amongst other imperialist powers, this situation has arisen. 

Let us delve further back into history. Nations were not just infinitely present throughout the past. They were founded. These nations arose from a sentiment of ethnonationalism. Humans are social animals and take pride in contending life as a part of a larger group or community. This strain of evolutionary mindset endures to this day. Dear reader, look back and reminisce the last time you connected with the stranger sauntering by for being of your nationality. Remember when you associated yourself with the unknown passerby for being of your religion. This event highlights our historical connection to this trait. 

It led to the formation of primordial states with primitive governmental systems. Eventually, humanity progressed to the twenty-first century. From the primaeval governance of the past to the monarchies with an imperialist sentiment of the pre-modern era to the democracies of today, governments have changed for the better (mostly).  

Yet today, one cannot count the many costs and liabilities of having these nations. The hatred and distrust nations have assimilated over time has only caused furtive alliances and general chaos in the international community. Countries resent the global influence of one another. They spy on each other. Nations build armies to storm the other (in the reason for peace). The result? Death, destruction and malice. Politically motivated divisions have fraught the world with contempt for one another. Individuals with no direct connection with their nation's governance are targeted with hate crimes for the nation's (biased) shortcomings. A common trend becomes apparent when we look at the India-Pakistan relation, the USA-Mexico relation and even the Russia-Estonia relation. We are embittered by years of war and desperation racking the nation. Condescending glares are commonplace for certain ideologies and economic systems in specific countries (e.g. Capitalism - Communism and Democracy - Theocracy). 

Divisions have caused unwarranted arms races, nuclear buildups and other dire problems. This situation should not have been the status quo. Instead, the money we spend on preventing each other should be allocated to more significant projects such as the expulsion of poverty, disease et cetera. 

The world would have been rosier without the war-ridden holes in it. The world should have been smoother for the scaly divisions in it. The world may have been greater had we no countries in it. Till next week, I leave you, dear reader, to ponder upon the need of countries qua modern state. The Counter-model to our present state shall ensue in OneWorld's next post.
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