A Hard Rain or a Symphony? Music as a metaphor for International Politics

The world’s orchestra is out of tune. Where harmony once guided the global order, rivalry now drowns the melody. But

Symphony Beyond Borders | The South Asian Symphony Orchestra brings together musicians from across the region, weaving harmony and hope through music in a divided world. | Image Courtesy: Nirupama Rao

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When the United Nations was created in 1945, it was as though the nations of the world agreed to sit in the same hall and play from a single score. The great symphony of humanity — long interrupted by the noise of a World War — would begin anew, promising balance and coherence, guided by a charter that spoke of peace, dignity, and shared destiny.

Eighty years later, the orchestra falters. The Security Council is locked in paralysis, multilateralism feels threadbare, and trust between nations is in retreat. Instead of tuning to one another, countries often play louder and louder, each demanding to be heard above the rest. The question facing us is stark: can the orchestra rediscover its score, or are we condemned to cacophony?

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