Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Mikhail Gorbachev, Essay Example

Personalities in history are often related to their activities and their consequent impact on the course of events development. They can be categorized by the positions they held, decisions they made, ideologies they followed or influence on various movements within their countries. The fundamental relationship between   Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Mikhail Gorbachev is in their contribution to the spreading of peace in the world in non-violent way. In this regard, in all three cases, it was not the position in the society or duties of one’s national belonging that encouraged each of them to make a contribution to world peace but personal beliefs and the ability to use a favorable moment in the history when difference can be made. [1]

Gandhi was proclaiming a non-violent resistance of the Indian nation against British colonialism and the necessity of socio-economic reform in Colonial India in 1920s. In this regard, he argued that the British colonial rule could exist in India only because Indians allowed that and if the nation altogether decided not to pay taxes and through marches of protest. He actively opposed any violence from both British side and protesters. He was convinced that even social order in India was meant to be changed towards the improvement of human equality, improvement of female status, prohibition of the practice of untouchability. In terms of political position, he was the leader of the non-cooperation movement and was able to unite various religious groups within it aimed at a peaceful resolution of the existing conflict. Thus, he was trying to achieve inter-state pace through pacification of the internal forces in India.[2]

Nelson Mandela was a South African revolutionary fighter against apartheid. He was the President of South Africa (1994-1999). Like Gandhi and Gorbachev to achieve peace, he had to fight with the existing order in his country, at that time. He also used non-violent means of protest and showed his opposition to the regime of apartheid through the endurance of various imprisonments and personal sacrifices for his own beliefs. He served various imprisonments; not being able to see his family, bus till did not accept the rule of the apartheid regime. He opposed apartheid in democratic way, through various demonstrations and speeches condemning racism and inequality. Managing to become the president of his country in a non-violent, democratic way demonstrated the strength of his conviction that peace can be built through peaceful means and not through violence. Just as Gandhi and Gorbachev, he was convinced that social reforms toward democratization and equaling of rights and freedoms were the key to peace building. In this regard, he considered by institutional changes the outcomes of apartheid could be overruled.[3]

Although Gorbachev is known for his moderation of the dynamics of communism in the last decade of Soviet Union’s existence aimed at relaxing the heavy implications of the Cold War both in the international relations and inside the country. In this regard, his agendas of Glasnost and Perestroika were the first steps towards changing the Soviet system and gradual transition towards democratic values. However, while Gandhi and Mandela contributed to the world peace by building their own countries, Gorbachev contributed to it by ending the Cold War through crumbling the unity of the Soviet Union and giving independence to all of the Soviet republics. Although it may seem that all three figures had different positions in the society and used different means of achieving their goals, in all of the cases, they were non-violent and aimed at common goodness and peace.[4]

[1] Waugh, S. Essential Modern World History, p. 67.

[2] Waugh, S. Essential Modern World History, p. 69.

[3] Duiker, W. and Spielvogel, J. The Essential World History, p. 198.

[4] Duiker, W. and Spielvogel, J. The Essential World History, p. 203.