Dr M Ali Hamza
Moral collapse in society means that the moral values and ethical standards that guide people and communities are getting weaker. It leads to behaviours and attitudes that are seen as wrong or harmful. It’s like the moral fabric that holds society together is untying.Moral collapse has serious consequences. It can lead to more crime, corruption, lawlessness, inequality, and a decline in overall well-being of society.
There are several factors that can contribute to a moral collapse in society like breakdown of traditional institutions such as family, community, and established administrative units. When these institutions weaken or break down, there can be a loss of moral guidance and a decline in moral responsibility.Secondly, as societies change and evolve, the values and norms also change. If this change of value system is not planned and executed intelligently, this can create confusion and disagreement about what is morally right or wrong, leading to moral relativism. Resultantly the society splits into multiple factions and moral binding evaporates. Thirdly, if people only care about their own rights and freedoms without considering their responsibility to society, it can lead to moral collapse. When individuals prioritize their own interests over the well-being of the community, it can result in a disregard for what is right and a lack of concern for the greater good. Thirdly, Trust and social cohesion are important for moral standards in society. When trust breaks down between individuals and institutions, it becomes harder to uphold moral norms and hold people responsible. This can lead to a culture of cynicism, apathy, and indifference towards moral values. Last but not the least, MEDIA shapes society’s values and norms. If media focuses on sensationalism, violence, and immoral behaviour, it can make unethical conduct seem normal. Social media platforms and online communities can also amplify harmful ideas and extreme viewpoints, weakening moral values even more.Aren’t these the elements that picture Moral Collapse in Pakistan?We will get back to it.
The moral collapse in society represents the moral collapse in its basicgoverning institutions. Like judicial, political, financial and others. Â Financial crisis of 2007-2008 that was due to risky and fraudulent banking practices, such as subprime mortgage lending and the packaging and selling of complex financial products with hidden risks.Illegal activities and abuses of power by members of President Richard Nixon’s administration; Watergate scandal, thesexual abuse scandals within various institutions, such as the Catholic Church, sports organizations, educational institutions, and the entertainment industry, are few examples of moral collapse in recent history.
The Panama Papers in 2016 revealed a network of offshore activities involving politicians and business leaders worldwide. In Pakistan, it exposed a culture of corruption and unethical behaviour among some politicians who allegedly evaded taxes and hid their wealth. The scandal damaged public trust in politics and emphasized the need for transparency, accountability, and ethical governance. It led to the downfall of a prominent politicians and had a big impact on the country’s political landscape.Some people think that the recent social disorder in Pakistan happened because the leaders sitting on treasury benches have a no sense of right and wrong; means they are morally compromised. It is also believed by analysts in and outside of the country that removing Imran Khan from parliament and arresting him with bad intentions also contributed to the unrest.
The country witnessed sights of vandalism, police firing water cannon and tear gasto control protesters, all major cities been blocked, disconnection of internet services around the country for 4 days, escalating tensions between institutions, constitutional crises, and zero efforts for political dialogue. The situation portrays a social moral collapse in Pakistan.
Now what to do? Academically speaking, to address such collapse, we need to take several actions. These include reestablishing, upholding the social moral norms,strengthening moral education, promoting ethical leaders, encouraging social responsibility, promote inclusivityand rebuilding trust in communities. We should also encourage open discussions and critical thinking about moral issues, create opportunities for dialogue and understanding across diverse perspectives, nurture empathy and compassion, and emphasize the importance of ethical behaviour in all aspects of life.Moreover, the establishment of robust legal and institutional frameworks that promote transparency, fairness, and justice. Effective laws, regulations, and enforcement mechanisms help discourage unethical behaviour and provide remedyto those affected by moral violations.
Media has a significant role to play side by side. Media outlets should realign their news and programming following national aspirations. Uphold the moral values. Media should play a part in educating masses, toe national agenda, stay impartial, encourage rational debates, promote emotional stability and avoid sensationalism. By embracing these elements, society can prevent social moral collapse and build a better community. It requires collective action, individual responsibility, and a commitment to upholding moral values in all aspects of life. This sounds brilliant in long term,if this start happening today. What now, and what quickly be done, is a real question.
The solution lies in those in power acknowledging the truth. The people of Pakistan want to remove morally compromised leaders, end social divisions, resolve conflicts between institutions, break the dominance of a single party or institution, eliminate elitism, and put an end to political dynasties. The reality is evident, so accepting it and bridging the gaps through a neutral third party that initiates and facilitates political dialogue to make quick and practical decisions can provide a speedy solution.
