What Is at Stake Now: My Appeal for Peace and Freedom

Thirty years after the end of the Cold War, world peace is at risk due to the US withdrawal from the disarmament treaty with Russia, Europe's disintegration, China's surge forward, and a wave of nationalism and populism destabilizing established political institutions. Mikhail Gorbachev, the last great statesman of the 1989 revolution, has written a book to warn us of the grave risks we now face and urge us to take action to address them. He focuses on the renewal of the arms race, the growing risks of nuclear war, the new tension between Russia and the West, the global environmental crisis, the global threat of diseases and epidemics, the rise of populism, and the decline of democracy. He argues that self-serving policies and narrow-minded politics are taking the place of political principles and overshadowing the vision of a free and just world for all peoples. He offers his view of where Russia is heading and urges political leaders in the West to recognize that re-establishing trust requires the courage of true leadership and a commitment to genuine dialogue and understanding on both sides. The responses to the great challenges we face must be collaborative efforts in which political leaders put aside their differences and work together to advance the human security of all.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 140 pages
\n Publication date: 03 September 2021
\n Publisher: Polity Press
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Thirty years after the end of the Cold War, the world is once again teetering on the brink of conflict. The United States has withdrawn from the disarmament treaty with Russia, Europe is experiencing disintegration, China is surging forward, and a wave of nationalism and populism is destabilizing established political institutions and endangering hard-won liberties. Moreover, the coronavirus pandemic has brought into sharp relief the fragility of the global order and the speed with which it can slide into chaos.

In view of this dangerous and unpredictable state of affairs, Mikhail Gorbachev, the last great statesman of the 1989 revolution, has written this short book to warn us of the grave risks we now face and to urge us all, political leaders and citizens alike, to take action to address them. He focuses on the big challenges of our time, such as the renewal of the arms race and the growing risks of nuclear war, the new tension between Russia and the West, the global environmental crisis, the global threat of diseases and epidemics, the rise of populism and the decline of democracy.

He argues that self-serving policies and narrow-minded politics aimed at the pursuit of national interests are taking the place of political principles and overshadowing the vision of a free and just world for all peoples. He offers his view of where Russia is heading and he urges political leaders in the West to recognize that re-establishing trust between Russia and the West requires the courage of true leadership and a commitment to genuine dialogue and understanding on both sides.

Now more than ever, the responses to the great challenges we face cannot be purely national in character but must be based on a collaborative effort in which political leaders put aside their differences and work together to advance the human cause.

The arms race is once again heating up, with both Russia and the United States amassing massive stockpiles of nuclear weapons and other advanced military technology. The growing tension between Russia and the West is a major concern, with both sides accusing each other of meddling in their internal affairs and threatening military action. The global environmental crisis is also a pressing issue, with climate change causing devastating natural disasters and threatening the survival of many species. The global threat of diseases and epidemics is another major concern, with the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the vulnerability of the global healthcare system.

Populism is also on the rise, with political leaders increasingly appealing to the emotions and fears of their constituents rather than offering rational and evidence-based policies. This has led to a decline in democratic norms and the erosion of trust in political institutions.

In response to these challenges, Gorbachev calls for a renewed commitment to political principles and a vision of a free and just world for all peoples. He argues that self-serving policies and narrow-minded politics must be replaced by a collaborative effort in which political leaders put aside their differences and work together to advance the human cause.

He also offers his view of where Russia is heading and urges political leaders in the West to recognize that re-establishing trust between Russia and the West requires the courage of true leadership and a commitment to genuine dialogue and understanding on both sides.

Gorbachev's book is a timely and important contribution to the debate about the future of the world. It is a reminder that the challenges we face are complex and interconnected, and that a collaborative effort is necessary to address them. It is a call to action for political leaders and citizens alike to take responsibility for the future of our planet and work together to build a better world for all.

\n Weight: 156g\n
Dimension: 129 x 200 x 12 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781509543229\n \n