Clearly international relations have entered a zone of huge instability. When the threat of nuclear war between the Superpowers increased during the 1960's and 1970's, a formula was eventually discovered by which stability in their relations could be maintained in order to avoid war.

The hope then also was that if instead of two blocs, more regional power centres could emerge, keeping the peace would become a more viable process. It does not appear like this has occurred.

The reason is that for years after the confrontation between the US and the USSR the former came to dominate the world (without really being able to get their will done - as in Afghanistan). Other powers which then came to prominence were not prepared to trust. And world wide instability followed.

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STATUE OF LIBERTY

An American poetess now forgotten, Emma Lazarus, was inspired by the Statue of Liberty in New York - which she called the Mother of Exiles - to write a sonnet entitled The New Colossus. Lazarus's poem features on a metal tablet that was placed at the base of the statue some one hundred and forty years ago.

his is what it says:

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome;

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Today this lady with the silent lips must change the terms of her greeting. She needs to warn the arriving tired and poor that as soon as they arrive, they'll be sent back to where they came from.

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CHECKS AND BALANCES

In the never ending polemics about whether our country is being well or badly run, the substance of what actually needs for things to be done better gets lost most of the time. I am one of those who disbelieve that there is some urgent need to "improve" the constitution. The need is rather to ensure that the constitution gets applied with care, not just according to its letter but just as much according to its spirit. (As for instance in how the "consultation" procedure between head of government and opposition leader is carried out.)

Equally, it needs to be applied with greater care and respect in all those mechanisms that reflect checks and balances in the conduct of public affairs. In recent years for instance we have seen a revival of judicial activism which perhaps had become necessary, although possibly not in the way it happened.

In all democracies that run according to the rules of parliamentary representation, it is crucial that the right balance is maintained between the different powers of the state. One doubts whether this is being successfully managed in Malta, a concern that has nothing to do with whether the constitution needs to be amended or not.