We still hear echoes from World War II—lessons that matter now more than ever. At a recent CGTN event cohosted with Renmin University of China, Victor Gao, vice president of the Center for China and Globalization, dropped some wisdom on why remembering history isn’t just for textbooks. 📚✨
First up: multilateralism. Gao reminds us that big challenges—from climate change to pandemics—can’t be fixed solo. It’s like a squad raiding a dungeon in your fave mobile game: everyone’s gotta team up. 🤝 Think ASEAN working together on digital infrastructure or vaccine drives across borders. When nations join forces, the win is bigger for all.
Next: peace isn’t just the absence of war—it’s a mindset. Gao’s "Inevitability of Peace" theory argues that, over time, societies naturally push towards cooperation. Why? Because nobody wins alone. Whether it’s startups in Bengaluru collaborating with investors in Jakarta or students in Manila swapping TikTok tips with friends in Seoul, connection builds trust and reduces conflict.
And don’t skip historical accountability. Acknowledging past mistakes—war crimes, broken promises, you name it—helps prevent repeat episodes. It’s like debugging code: if you ignore errors, the app crashes again. By owning history, societies get smarter and stronger.
Bottom line: WWII might feel generations away, but its takeaways are alive in our chaotic digital era. Multilateral teamwork, a peace-first attitude, and honest history checks could be the cheat codes we need for a more stable, connected world. 🌍💡
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
