USA Africa Dialogue Series - David and Goliath

An Opinion                                                               

 Paradigm Shift

 

Has Missile diplomacy made the Mighty a "paper tiger? Since the advent of North Korea's incessant launching of missiles over Japan and the continued threat that America might be next, we have witnessed a peculiar development in international politics. I believe I captured the current episode unfolding in international relations between Pyongyang and Washington—i.e. the weak and the mighty—in my allegorical depiction of the nature of democracy in a forthcoming novel. Indeed, in a fictional "Democracy Square" a lamb in its speech had the audacity of insulting and threatening the tigers and a mouse the cats for snacking on them in the park. After their abuses, the tigers and cats apologized for their indiscretions and imprudence and promised that they would desist forthwith from including lambs and mice in their menu.

          The current situation of international politics in the Middle East is combustible. Is it possible for Tehran to borrow a leaf from Pyongyang and threaten the great powers and their interests in the region with its missiles and be rewarded?

To be sure, as a student of international relations, North Korea should rejoice in its missile diplomacy. In my judgment, she has won the battle between David and the Goliath!  And, this development might be signaling a paradigm shift whereby the weak threatens the powerful with its "crude missiles" knowing too well, that due to public opinion, the major powers are less likely to retaliate with their nuclear arsenal.

 

Ike Udogu

 

 

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