As a globalized world, we have entered an era in which various facets have become interconnected. Unfortunately, it has been primarily through events characterized by violence, fear, and destruction that the global community has recognized the importance of protecting the world’s people. Interwoven networks have made it such that issues once seen as local or state-wide have now crossed borders, with widespread consequences.

Solutions to issues such as human trafficking, poverty, violence, and inequality, among others, may be solved only through action by our world as a whole. Recognizing the need to come together to reach a common goal, organizations have vocalized a need to develop standards and strategies for change – but how far does the echo for these initiatives reach?

The link between politics and humanitarianism has been one of the most crippling characteristics of globalism in the following ways:

1. The manner in which politics acts as a guiding principle in humanitarian decision making and action.

2. Causing humanitarianism to draw away from altruistic intentions. Instead, the world’s social conscience has become saturated with power politics through the opportunistic behavior of world actors.

Feats can be achieved in the direction of protecting human rights, preventing violence, ensuring economic and political stability, eliminating poverty, and providing resources and support to vulnerable individuals. This is not to say that change will come overnight. The amount of time, resources, and effort cannot be underestimated. However, one thing can be said for sure, until we reassess the link between politics and humanitarianism, the question is not whether it is too great of a feat to bring about change. The question is instead: When will human lives be considered of greater value than economic and diplomatic interests of actors in our global chess game?