Consider this metaphor: The world is a neighborhood and every nation is a house, each one distinctly unique and entirely made of glass. The see-through materiality of glass symbolizes the transparency of today’s information age, where a country’s internal affairs are often open for the global neighborhood to observe.
Within these glass houses, each country navigates its own domestic challenges while simultaneously navigating its place in the neighborhood. Yet, the occupants of these houses are not identical. Different nations, like different families, have their own histories, customs, values, and perceptions, shaping the management of their domestic affairs. When you walk through your own glass house, you understand the reasons behind each crack, each piece of furniture, and the particular way it’s all arranged. Conversely, the exact order of your neighbor’s house might seem odd or disagreeable to you; and although it may not be perfect, it makes perfect sense to them.
The principle of non-interference suggests that we should refrain from imposing our ways on our neighbors. Just as it would be considered inappropriate to dictate how others should manage their homes, it takes the position that it is similarly unacceptable for countries to interfere in the domestic affairs of others, realizing that changes and improvements within a house take place on that household’s own volition, timeframe, and terms — not through external pressures and coercion.
Firstly, understanding another’s house is not the same as living in it. External countries might observe a nation’s issues through the glass walls, but they do not truly experience the domestic complexities within. In the real world, this translates to outsiders often not fully understanding a nation’s history, social dynamics, cultural nuances, and internal challenges. Decisions made without this understanding undoubtedly lead to unintended consequences.
Secondly, non-interference respects the principle of sovereignty. Every house in the neighborhood is its own property, a domain where the occupants have the right to make their own decisions. Similarly, every country has a legal and moral right to govern its internal affairs without external coercion or interference. Ultimately, it is the occupants of the house, the domestic population, by which legitimacy is derived.
Lastly, non-interference fosters self-improvement and garners respect. When neighbors focus on improving their own homes rather than instructing others on how to manage theirs, they contribute to the overall quality of the neighborhood. Similarly, countries that prioritize the ordering of their own domestic affairs are better able to contribute to global peace and stability. No one’s home (country) is entirely perfect and orderly such that they are qualified to criticize another’s. In a glass house neighborhood, every house is fully aware of every other house’s shortcomings. Being seen improving your own home garners more neighborhood respect than walking around finding faults in others’.
This doesn’t mean we turn a blind eye towards our neighbors. The metaphor of the glass houses implies humility, openness, dialogue, and cooperation; as opposed to the self-delusion, hubris, and dragooning embedded in finger-pointing and fault-finding. We can share experiences, offer help when asked, or engage in sincere and constructive dialogues. In an interdependent world, global issues do require collective actions. But these must be based on mutual respect and understanding, not on unwarranted interference and criticism.
In the end, the global neighborhood of glass houses can become a diverse (in practices, not just appearances), vibrant, and harmonious place, where each house is different, yet each one is contextually in order and contributes to the beauty of the whole. Non-interference, then, is not about isolation; it’s about respect, understanding, and cooperation. So, let us repair and tidy our own glass houses, respect our neighbors, and create a peaceful, diverse, and harmonious global neighborhood.
