Volume-XII, Issue-II, March 2026 |
ধর্মের আলোকে সমকালীন আন্তর্জাতিক সংঘাতের নৈতিক বিশ্লেষণ: ইরান–ইসরায়েল–যুক্তরাষ্ট্র যুদ্ধের প্রেক্ষাপটে প্রসূন সরদার, গবেষক, সিধো-কানহো-বীরসা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়, পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, ভারত |
Received: 26.03.2026 | Accepted: 29.03.2026 | Published Online: 31.03.2026 | Page No: | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.12.issue.02W. | |||||||
An Ethical Analysis of Contemporary International Conflicts in the Light of Religion: In the Context of the Iran–Israel–United States Conflict Prasun Sardar, Research Scholar, Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, West Bengal, India | ||
ABSTRACT | ||
"This paper analyzes the ethical dimensions of the contemporary Iran–Israel–United States conflict through the concept of dharma as articulated in the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita. Rather than viewing this conflict merely as a geopolitical or military issue, it is interpreted as a profound moral crisis arising from the tension between svadharma (role-based duty) and sāmānya dharma (universal ethical values such as justice, compassion, and the protection of human life).
Through various characters and events in the Mahabharata, the paper demonstrates that ethical decision-making is often complex and ambiguous, where even the fulfillment of duty can generate moral dilemmas. Similarly, drawing upon the philosophical teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, it explains how individuals—and in the modern context, states—can confront such crises through self-awareness, restraint, and detachment from the fruits of action.
The analysis reveals that although Iran, Israel, and the United States justify their actions on the grounds of national security and strategic responsibility, these positions frequently come into conflict with broader humanitarian values. Civilian casualties, destruction of infrastructure, and the cycle of retaliatory violence reflect a breakdown of sāmānya dharma, even as claims of upholding svadharma persist.
By comparing this contemporary conflict with the moral dilemmas of the Kurukshetra war, the paper argues that justice cannot be achieved solely through the performance of duty if it is not aligned with universal ethical principles. Ultimately, the study suggests that the resolution of such conflicts lies not in abandoning duty, but in its ethical reconfiguration—where restraint, responsibility, and a commitment to the greater good play a crucial role.
Thus, the paper demonstrates that ancient Indian ethical philosophy remains highly relevant in analyzing contemporary global conflicts.
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Keywords: Dharma, Nishkama Karma, Iran, Israel, United States, Ethics |