Expert, Afroz decries generational crisis of global leadership, Western Hypocrisy

By Khwaja Md, India

Khwaja Md Afroz, a Researcher and faculty in the Department of Political Science, MANUU, Hyderabad has decried the generational Crisis of Global Leadership and Western Hypocrisy, especially among the Youths.

Afroz who made this known in his thesis titled; “Governed by the Past, Trapped in Conflict: The Generational Crisis of Global Leadership and Western Hypocrisy’ and issued to newsmen.

The Thesis reads in part: “We are living in a paradox, at no point in history has humanity been more technologically empowered, scientifically informed, and globally interconnected (UNDP, 2024). Yet, we are governed by an ageing political elite whose worldview is shaped more by the memories of past wars (Cold War) than the promise of future peace (Ali, 2023). 

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“The contemporary world suffers from what be called a “governance glaucoma” an inability or unwillingness to envision peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable future. 

Afroz said his areas of expertise include; Federalism, Governance, Nation-building, Digital Democracy and Contemporary politics. 

He noted that the recent G7 Summit, which concluded without a binding consensus, is emblematic of this dysfunction. “Each leader arrived with divergent agendas, and departed with empty declarations, an apt metaphor for a leadership class increasingly out of step with the world it governs (Atlantic Council). 

The Ageing Grip on Power

Today, the average age of G20 leaders’ hovers around 65 (retirement) age, while the global median age is just over 30. Across both democracies and autocracies, Leadership in both states is a closed circuit, defined not by merit or future readiness, but by legacy management and ideological nostalgia.

“In so-called liberal democracies like the USA, UK and France, the façade of participatory governance often conceals an elite consensus geared toward maintaining geopolitical dominance often at the expense of the Global south (Topliske, 2024). 

Afroz emphasized that figures like; Donald Trump (79), Vladimir Putin (72), Xi Jinping (72), Narendra Modi (74), F. W. Steinmeier (69), Keir Starmer (62), Meloni and Macron are at 48 (but embedded with elite circle) —”these men command immense power in a world that looks nothing like the one they grew up in. 

“Their understanding of politics is often rooted in binary equations such as; enemy versus ally, power versus submission, nationalism versus globalism, leaving little room for the nuanced, intersectional issues faced by younger generations (Kevin, 2024).

Benjamin Netanyahu (75), symbolize a political class that speaks of human rights while aiding apartheid policies in Palestine or destabilizing governments in West Asia (UNnews). 

“This generational disconnect is not just a matter of age but of orientation, responsiveness, and imagination. In most democracies and authoritarian states alike, political leadership has become a closed loop, where succession is managed, not earned; and where power is wielded to maintain legacies, not to forge futures (Onopriienko). 

“Wars of Hypocrisy: Western Roots of Global Conflict Ongoing global conflicts are symptomatic of this leadership failure.  The Russia-Ukraine War, now in third year, has resulted in over 500,000 deaths and displaced over 14 million people. 

“In Gaza, over 62,614 Palestinians, many of them children have been killed and 1,139 Israeli killed (Aljazeera) since October 2023 in Israel’s military campaign, supported materially and diplomatically by western governments. 

“This disproportionate use of force has unfolded despite credible allegations of war crimes and ethnic cleansing, and in open defiance of multiple UN ceasefire appeals (Ribeiro et al., 2025). 

“Western democracies, particularly the US, UK and Germany have repeatedly invoked the language of democracy and human rights while simultaneously enabling apartheid like policies in Palestine, and engaging in regime destabilisation across West-Asia. 

“From Iraq and Libya to Afghanistan and Syria, Western democracies have undertaken war under the guise of supporting democracy, resulting in failed governments, extremist vacuums, and widespread displacements. These contradictions, the compensation of democratic values for imperial interests has long term consequences for global legitimacy of trust. War Economies and the Necro -politics of Fear

“In 2023, global military spending reached $2.24 trillion, with the United States, alone spent $877 billion nearly 40% of the world’s total on its military-industrial complex. 

“Militarism is no longer merely a security imperative; it is a business model, deeply integrated into national economies and political rhetoric. It diverts resources from healthcare, education, and climate resiliency, particularly in states that promotes austerity domestically while pursuing aggression abroad. 

“War also serve a narrative function in justifying surveillance, suppress dissident, and deflect attention from urgent generational demands like social justice, climate policies, digital equity, inclusive development or postcolonial reparations (Lobanov & Selin, 2024).. 

Achille Mbembne termed it “Necro-politics” in this model, political power is exercised not to preserve life, but to determine whose lives are disposable. 

“Examples are many in contemporary politics, the relentless siege of Gaza, the aerial bombardments of Yemen and Syria, the silence surrounding the criminalisation of refugees at European ands US borders, all of these illustrate how expandability is racialized, territorialised, and justified under the guise of security and sovereignty (Foucault, 1975).

The Youth as Spectators of a Future they will Inherit Globally, over 50% of the population is under the age of 35, yet youth representation in legislature is dismal 2% (EPW, 2025). This includes so-called mature western democracies, typically cited as models. 

“This exclusion is structural and deliberate, reflecting the establishment’s discomfort with the transformative power of youth. Younger generations challenge the status quo with intersectional consciousness on racism, gender, environment, and technology. 

“In 2023, 60% of MPs lacked basic AI or climate policy knowledge, according to WEF. A world of algorithms, climate tipping points, and identity-based mobilisations makes this epistemic gap perilous (Benedix & Hedžet, 2025).

“Notably, youth movements like ‘Fridays for future’ and leadership transitions in countries like Chile offer evidence that youth-led governance is not only possible but increasingly effective. 

Intergenerational Justice, Not Just Reform Demanding inclusion is no longer sufficient; we also need to demand intergenerational justice. 

“This implies; requiring young people to be represented in legislatures. establishing age and term restrictions for high-risk investments. establishing digital knowledge and ethics as requirements for employment. 

“Switching to decentralised cooperation from centralised militarism. Because a future that requires networks, empathy, and inventiveness cannot be led by those who only see the world in terms of borders and weapons.

Conclusion: 

“Peace Requires New Power.

Peace is not the absence of war, but the presence of justice. Western democracies must acknowledge their participation in global instability. 

“It necessitates a new leadership capable of transcending racial hierarchies, civilisational narcissism, and empire-based entitlements. Only then can we hope to create a world in which security is not a zero-sum game and futures are not dictated by the ghosts of empires past. 

“The youth must not inherit a burning planet ruled by blind elders. They must be given the authority to rewrite the blueprints, because peace requires fresh eyes, voices, and, above all, new power” he said.