By Celsus Ohain
(A Nigerian veteran journalist)
From remote antiquity, man has always striven to expand his influence territorially for a variety of reasons ranging from the filial to personal survival.
Self Preservation, it is said is the first law of nature! Animals too are not left out in this syndrome hence cat-animals like the lion would map out a territory for itself and fight to finish any intrusion, mainly for sensuous reasons.
Even in ancient state systems, the quest for survival imposed obligation on the state to expand territories to guarantee continuous flow of resources as well as use as ‘buffer zones’ against external aggression.
In contemporary times however, territorial expansionism has become sophisticated, manifesting in the physical and ‘virtual’ forms; physical being present on the soil and virtual, being ‘sphere of influence’.
When a man pursues a cause, he will always invent justifications, to the extent that “ if the theory does not fit, you change the facts’ (apology to Albert Einstein).
I heard is said that ‘territorial expansionism is no longer an aggression but a development the accords with the mood of contemporary times’.
It may sound offensive to common sense but realistically examined, is it not true?
In this digital age, where you can’t go physically, you can as well go there ‘virtually’ and execute schemes like you are physically there!
Russia and US/NATO are in a ‘chess’ game again in the Ukrainian crisis. Like it or not, it’s a show of ‘power and muscle’, and international morality is a non-issue. ‘Power’ is the name of the game. The international system is indeed ‘chaotic and anarchic’.
After testing their strength and muscles, the two ‘big boys’ will wind down and the pawns – lesser nations- will lick their wounds and bruises for many excruciating years to come.
Celsus Ohain is a Nigerian veteran journalist.
