Building a society free from moral decay: Need a coordinated awakening
The sovereignty of a state, its economic growth, and its infrastructural development achieve true fulfillment only when its social fabric is founded upon a strong ethical foundation.
In today's era of globalization, societies are undergoing profound psychological and structural transformations. Amid these changes, three destructive forces have increasingly taken hold of our social order: terrorism, corruption, and drug abuse.
From a sociological perspective, these are not isolated phenomena; rather, they are deeply interconnected and collectively create a vicious cycle of social decay. Breaking free from this multidimensional crisis requires more than reliance on any single institution.
It calls for the integrated social consciousness envisioned by sociologist Arnold Toynbee, in which the family, the state administration, and law enforcement function together as an inseparable three-dimensional axis.
The Convergence of Three Pillars and Institutional Responsibility
French sociologist Émile Durkheim argued in his theory of social disorder that when key social institutions fail to function in harmony, society enters a state of anomie—a condition characterized by the erosion of shared norms and values. Our current social reality vividly illustrates this principle.
No matter how stringent the laws enacted by the state to combat drugs, terrorism, and corruption, their effective implementation ultimately depends on law enforcement agencies, particularly the police.
However, the combined efforts of the state and the police can only produce sustainable results when the smallest yet most fundamental social institution—the family—actively participates.
The role of the state and law enforcement is primarily curative: they intervene after crimes have occurred by enforcing justice and maintaining public order.
The family's role, by contrast, is preventive. While the state seeks to reform society by punishing offenders, the family prevents the seeds of criminality from taking root in the first place.
Therefore, the coordinated functioning of these three forces has become one of the essential prerequisites for building a secure, ethical, and value-driven society in the modern state.
Family Vigilance and the Economics of Morality
One of the greatest tragedies of the capitalist system is the relentless pursuit of wealth, which often suppresses ethical consciousness. When Karl Marx's theory of alienation is applied to contemporary society, it becomes evident that many families have become so consumed by economic aspirations that they have grown detached from the psychological development of their own children.
Understanding the source of every family member's income is not merely a legal obligation—it is one of the highest moral and familial responsibilities. When income is acquired through unethical or opaque means, its corrosive influence inevitably shapes the values and outlook of younger generations.
Equally important is parental awareness of their children's social circles—who they associate with, how they spend their time, and the direction in which their relationships are evolving. Such vigilant supervision is indispensable.
Too often, indifference is justified in the name of modernity or personal freedom, leaving young people vulnerable to drug addiction or organized youth violence such as juvenile gangs. We must remember that the ethical deficiencies we observe at the societal or national level often originate from negligence within individual families.
Material Wealth versus the Enduring Dignity of Integrity
We are living through an era in which social status is increasingly measured by bank balances, luxury cars, and magnificent residences. Yet this materialistic standard poses a grave threat to the long-term stability of society. The philosopher Socrates repeatedly emphasized that the true beauty of a state lies not in its wealth but in the virtue of its citizens.
The genuine dignity, prestige, and honor of a family can never be measured by material abundance or wealth acquired through unethical means. Lasting social respect and family legacy are built upon honesty, moral courage, and unwavering ethical principles. Unless this culture of integrity is revived within the family, no legal framework alone will ever be sufficient to eradicate corruption or drug abuse.
Conclusion and the Road Ahead
To prevent social and institutional decay and to guide our younger generation toward constructive and meaningful lives, we must sustain this collective awareness and integrated system of prevention. If we fail to liberate society from the destructive grip of drugs, terrorism, and corruption, our youth will not become the demographic dividend capable of driving national progress. Instead, they risk becoming an immense burden on the state.
As a Vice Chancellor and a scholar of society and statecraft, I firmly believe that the ultimate purpose of education extends far beyond awarding academic degrees; it is to cultivate moral values and ethical character. Only through the coordinated efforts of the state, public administration, law enforcement, and the family can we build a humane, peaceful, and just society.
Let us begin this transformation at the individual and family levels. May the timeless values of honesty, accountability, and moral integrity illuminate every layer of society and every household.
Author: Professor Dr. Asif Mizan, Vice Chancellor, Daru Salam University, Mogadishu, Somalia, and Analyst of International Politics and Society