When leaders lose their moral compass

While I would be the first to admit there are no perfect people in the universe, it is equally true that many are trying their best.

They may not necessarily be seeking perfection but progress, incremental progress, in the way they conduct themselves.

How does this measure up with global leaders? They stand before the media, trumpeting and pontificating about their virtues. Some even call for a just war.

These individuals hold up a mirror for all of us to witness. Do we like what we see and hear?

The mirror of power

Two names come to mind: US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

One has been convicted in a domestic court while the other an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, as well as separate domestic corruption charges in Israel.

To say that both are popular today would be an exaggeration. Nevertheless, both have a great impact on society far beyond their borders.

Consider also UK leaders like Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer. Do these men inspire? Do they reflect leadership qualities that many would wish to emulate? Is this something that is only evident in the West?

Nearer home, we have Narendra Modi, who faced severe criticism over the Gujarat riots and many other controversies, including changes to the electoral commission of India. Under a law passed in 2023, the chief justice was removed from the selection panel for election commissioners and replaced with a cabinet minister.

The selection committee now comprises the Indian prime minister, the leader of the opposition and a government-nominated cabinet minister. So began what critics see as the erosion of the due process of elections.

Closer to home, our own leaders are not without fault. They speak of Islam but do much to dishonour their own faith. We lack sincere leaders with conscience, and few are willing to call a spade a spade.

When systems fail people

There seems to be a serious lack of leadership qualities among those helming nations. They are all caught trying to balance national interests without ethical considerations.

We also witness how human weaknesses may be exploited to gain leverage. The Jeffrey Epstein files point to such a vulnerability. On display in the files are human weaknesses and vulnerabilities of prominent individuals and their play with power and control.

Added to this is the control of media and channels of communication through corporate mergers and purchases by loyalists of the government of the day.

At the end of the day, a heavy price is paid by ordinary people.

Whatever the system of governance, it can be manipulated. Within a democratic framework, autocracy can take hold, especially when the party in power commands more than a two-thirds majority.

Singapore is an excellent example of this. Yet it is a benevolent form of democracy headed by rulers who, in the main, conform to rules and ensure that the interests of the people are, to a large extent, met. They need this for their own political survival.

There are also countries where autocracy rules and corruption is endemic.

All this drives home the fact that leadership matters, and what guides it has a long-term impact on people.

If right-wing ideology is what drives a leader, minorities and migrants face immense challenges. Whether you are conservative, liberal, progressive or radical, your views will shape your leadership if power is in your hands.

Ultimately, what matters is whether the leadership brings development and justice to the people.

The capacity of leaders to motivate, to serve and to give their best, exemplifying both character and integrity, inspires policies and approaches that meet the needs within society.

An individual or a party motivated by a cause to serve fellow human beings can make a difference.

Today, one witnesses certain nations governed by left-leaning and communist governments also pulling many of their people out of poverty. Within a decade they have achieved much and, while debates about human rights and justice persist, the evidence is there for all to see.

Whatever the system, the human capacity both to ennoble and to corrupt remains. Even communist nations struggle with corruption.

The same can be said of religion. Greed, lust, hatred and envy remain default impulses that can undercut justice and fairness.

What motivates leaders thus becomes a significant factor.

The price of  bad leadership

So, the quality of individuals who hold power matters.

First, they must have a level of education that understands the nature of power, the quality of service, fiscal discipline and the economics of their nations, their strengths and weaknesses.

Sadly, in many democratic nations this basic foundational requirement is not met. You need no qualifications at all to be a politician.

Indeed, oratorical skills and the ability to exploit people’s fears and insecurities can propel a leader or party into power. With media, publicity and hype, one can today create a hero out of a hollow vessel.

But these abilities are inadequate to manage a modern nation state.

Take Trump, for instance. That he could be elected twice is an indication of the state of affairs in the US.

Some have alleged, based on unverified claims in recently released Epstein-related documents, that he could be acting as a puppet in the hands of the Zionist regime in Israel.

He promotes actions that flout international law and has presided over attacks on a sovereign nation. To him, might is right, and so he works in rhythm with Israel to start a war on Iran.

Following the US attack on Venezuela, Trump felt emboldened enough to join Israel’s campaign against Iran, confident that he could derail the nation in a few days. This mirrors the same calculation Russia made with Ukraine following its easy takeover of Crimea.

Iran, however, was ready and put up far more resistance than anticipated. To its credit, Iran has been both measured and proportional in its response.

The price paid by the world is heavy. Prices soar, families are hit by a lack of cooking gas, logistics are disrupted, medicines are in short supply, not to mention the price increases that follow. Nations face rising inflation, a fall in the value of their currencies and a disruption to life as they know it.

When pride and ego take over and leaders have no moral compass, we the people become fodder for statistics – men, women and children killed and wounded; buildings razed to the ground, with hope fading and desperation growing.

Vulnerable nations facing severe economic challenges – among them Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Argentina, Myanmar and African nations such as Sudan and Mali – face enormous hardship and human tragedy.

When leaders lose their moral compass, they also lose sight of international law and a rules-based approach. Compromise becomes the order of the day. Selective interpretation becomes the norm. Even the champions of democracy display glaring compromises.

Thus, the quality of leadership, the causes leaders promote and the character they display become significant factors.

We the people must become sensitive to real leadership qualities and ensure that our leaders exemplify virtues that serve the cause of humanity.

A negative mindset can never contribute to a positive life. Life is only as good as one’s mindset, and it is therefore important that our leaders inspire an inclusive spirit and treat everyone with fairness and justice.

K Haridas
Co-editor, Aliran newsletter
1 May 2026

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