Aggravating global disorder and the future of democracy

It is quite some time since 'things began to fall apart' rapidly in the international political order that came into existence post-1945 and left most sage minds baffled. However, the international community cannot evade the responsibility of trying to figure out 'where to go from here' and what needs to be done to bring a measure of order out of the chaos that is upon the world.

- BY LYNN OCKERSZ

More specifically, the question cannot be avoided as to what must be done to halt the relentless undermining of humanity in the relations among countries and nations.

Fortunately, Sri Lanka does not lack the institutions and forums where the above and related issues could be aired and commented on rationally. The Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, Colombo (BCIS), devoted to the diligent teaching and researching of international relations, provides ample scope for enlightened deliberations of this kind and it did just that on November 10th when it held its convocation for 2025 at its main auditorium. Among the sizeable audience were not only student recipients of degrees and other academic credentials and their elders and well-wishers but also eminent members of the diplomatic corps, well-known members of the wider public and the BCIS and Bandaranaike National Memorial Foundation staff.

Former President and Chairperson of the BCIS and BNMF Ms. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (CBK) chaired the proceedings. The BCIS staff were adeptly guided on the occasion by also the Executive Director of the BCIS Ms. Priyanthi Fernando. The latter and her staff were described during the latter half of the event by former President CBK as a 'small staff that is doing a big job.'

An erudite keynote address was delivered on the occasion by Professor Shalini Randeria, Rector Emerita of the Central European University and a well-known scholar in Sociology and Social Anthropology. Among other things, Prof. Randeria observed that 'it is a tall order to return to the world order that we are familiar with and which is rapidly transforming before our very eyes. A new rather transactional disorder is taking shape and societies are growing increasingly polarized while a fragmented and legally plural international legal order is evolving, one which is rather a patchwork mixture of international public and private law.'