CONTEMPLATE a world where fairness and equal opportunities are only distant dreams. In the course of history, societies have come into being with the lofty purpose of offering a level ground for everyone, encouraging the production of wealth and endurance. This idea has been but a faint spark in the records of mankind with only a small number of exceptions. Due to their unquenchable thirst for power, human societies have grown by taking over weaker nations. Sadly, this era does not differ from the past. Even in modern societies, especially those that are developing, the idea of a just society is still a far-off vision. Elite capture is the factor that has obstructed the advancement of societies.
The common practice of adoring heroes in these places keeps a system going where the elite have control over the majority. The South Asian region has seen a resurgence of this mentality, even after the era of Enlightenment that ended the oppressive rule of the privileged in the Western world. Unfortunately, the implications of this reality are severe for everyone in our society. Without the essential elements of justice and fairness in the social structure, people turn to taking the law into their own hands, looking for power and influence by any means necessary. These unjust societies cause a power struggle that lasts, creating a chaotic foundation of lawlessness.
It’s an oddity how an unjust society can keep going. Such a society is full of gaps that are used for the benefit of the elite and to the detriment of the others. Everyone is subjected to injustice in a system like this, except those who manage to accumulate power slyly. In these communities, the display of power becomes a phenomenon, where wicked objectives are carried out without repercussions. These types of societies never reach a level of sustainability when it comes to politics, social unity and economic success. Instead, people band together in factions, safeguarding their ideologies and interests to ensure their survival. Consequently, the element of national integration, a vital ingredient for societal harmony, withers away, allowing the poison of inequality to plague every dimension of life.
In an unjust society, the tools that should bring success and prosperity to a nation are instead used to benefit a small group of privileged individuals, who hoard all the resources for their gain. Justice is quickly given to those who are wealthy and influential, while the disadvantaged struggle to get justice. As the influential and wealthy strengthen their control of society, the average person confronts incomprehensible difficulties, while those in position of power discover themselves encompassed by limitless possibilities to acquire wealth and abundance. In an unfair society, education becomes a commodity only the wealthy can access, leaving the poorer members of society to suffer in a cruel twist of fate. Possibilities for making a life-altering difference become a far-off aspiration.
People in these oppressive societies, weighed down by their suffering, often fantasize about sparking a revolution to bring a real change. As a result, political stability becomes a distant dream, leading to an increase in criminal activity with the loss of life of innocent people going unnoticed in the tumult. Within these societies, the elite and their cronies bask in affluence, revelling in unprecedented power. In their realm, no one dares to question the legitimacy of their actions, further cementing their grip on authority. Politics devolves into a mere family business with the middle class and the poor relegated to the sidelines or forced to serve the whims of the wealthy in their quest for power. The most heartbreaking part of these societies is the disregard for intellectual ability. To keep their authority, rulers allow society to suffer from the burden of mental destitution. The success of these societies is dependent on the blood of the guiltless who take the brunt of the wrongdoers.
Over time, the pressure and demands of victims trapped in an unjust environment mount to an unbearable level. The revolution eventually breaks out, wiping out all in its wake and leaving a lasting state of chaos and disarray. These societies never progress, but instead suffer an unavoidable collapse. Regrettably, until the flames of disaster engulf them, the citizens remain in misery in all parts of life. The intellectuals within such societies, yearning to satisfy their inner beings, often seek refuge elsewhere, leaving behind a void that is filled by mindless individuals who further exploit the vulnerable, transforming society into a jungle. All societies that nurture unjust rules inevitably succumb to social disorder. Even those who hold power and accumulate wealth become victim of their creation. The loopholes that the powerful exploit to fulfil their vested interests eventually turn into poison for them. This is the fate that awaits all dictators, as their unfortunate end looms.
For any society to flourish, a bedrock of justice must be established. A just society permits the flourishing of its citizens without prejudice, unveiling the key to sustained growth and development. A fair society begins when everybody agrees that all resources should be divided among all members. Regardless of the social group, the equitable distribution of resources, equal provision of opportunities and the establishment of true democratic norms are crucial to fashioning a just society. The time has come for introspection within our society. We must confront the tendencies that perpetuate injustice, plugging all the loopholes that corrode the very foundations of our social structure. Aiding the provision of equal opportunities will restrain the expansion of hatred and division in society.
We must work towards providing equal education and job opportunities, empowering women, ensuring justice for all and making those in power accountable and transparent, to create a just and equitable society. We must recognize history’s remembrance of both tyrants and reformers, but it is those who champion justice and equality become the true heroes of mankind. These people, the pillars of human history, create a lasting legacy that echoes through the years, steering us to a brighter future. Aren’t we far away from developing such kinds of societies? Indeed, we are.
—The writer is CSS Officer, based in Sargodha.
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