Letters | Trump’s win brings home why Global South must forge own path

Readers reflect on the results of the 2024 US presidential election and lessons learned

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A Trump flag hangs on a fence at the El Curtola Boulevard overpass in Lafayette, California, on November 6. Photo: San Francisco Chronicle via AP

Published: 2:30pm, 7 Nov 2024

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The long-anticipated presidential election in the US has finally concluded and, as I feared, Donald Trump has returned to power.

The United States, under the guise of policing the world, has committed numerous injustices globally. It is therefore not surprising that the country has elected a convicted felon to its highest office. Democracy is a system in which people elect the leaders they deserve.

In Sanskrit there is a saying, Vinaash Kaale Vipreet Buddhi. Loosely translated to English, it means that “during crises or catastrophic situations, people may make poor decisions or act irrationally”. The fact that a significant portion of the electorate chose him reflects a troubling decline in the moral fabric of society, as many have witnessed Trump’s blatant disregard for rules, women’s rights, laws, established moral standards and ethics.

Fortunately, more countries are beginning to challenge the authority of the United States to act as the world’s moral arbiter, recognising the ulterior motives behind its actions. The emergence of groups like Brics is a positive development, providing an alternative to institutions dominated by the US and its allies. I hope that nations around the world can unite to push for reforms in organizations like the United Nations, International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

The Global South, in particular, should carve out its own path without relying on a bullying superpower that is losing its influence and standing in the international community.