One school of thought holds that the authorities should invest most of their effort in dealing with national issues, whereas others argue that international issues are more important and should be given greater focus. This essay attempts to shed light on both perspectives before explaining why I prefer the former.
On the one hand, it is understandable why each nation should make some contributions to address global issues. Admittedly, tackling these problems can also bring some advantages to numerous countries worldwide. To be more specific, they not only affect the global environment but also are detrimental to individual countries. It can be exemplified by the case of cybercrime, which can be deemed as one of the most serious problems in recent years due to technological development. Consequently, after five years of discussion, the UN and some countries introduced the first official convention on the prevention of cybercrime in Hanoi last week. This document implements some strict regulations about the fines for criminals and the protection of the victims. Therefore, it can mitigate the severe impacts of cyberattacks globally and reduce the chance of being attacked online for the convention’s members.
On the other hand, from my perspective, the importance of solving domestic issues may outweigh the aforementioned matters. First and foremost, it plays a pivotal role in national development. The leading priority of the government should be to satisfy and provide the basic needs of the residents, such as the healthcare system, education, and public transportation, directly contributing to and affecting the citizens’ living conditions. It is because without a healthy and skilled workforce, the country is likely to struggle in the development stage. Moreover, the internal stability is the source of a country’s power and is also one of the aspects of global perception. If a country has a high rate of criminal or civil cases, its image in the public eye cannot be a reliable partner for international cooperation. Consequently, this may negatively affect its reputation and even form a barrier to global integration, which is essential for the development of several fields in this country, especially the import and export.
In conclusion, while the benefits that addressing global issues offer to each nation are undeniable, I would contend that solving domestic ones should be the first priority of governments before turning their concern to a larger scale.