Global Dialogues

In a world shaped by growing fragmentation and geopolitical competition, moral authority is often perceived as elusive, commonly caught between the weakening influence of international institutions and the rise of national self-interest. Yet as a Sikh American, I turn to my cultural and spiritual heritage to reframe this question. Sikhism teaches that moral authority does not rest solely in institutions or individual leaders, but in the collective consciousness of humanity—within each of us, and most powerfully, within the community.

At the core of Sikh belief is the concept of sarbat da bhala—a prayer and principle for the well-being of all. This vision of universal uplift is grounded in the idea that divinity and moral clarity reside within every individual, regardless of caste, creed, or nation. From this perspective, moral authority is not centralized but dispersed, present in the everyday actions of people who live in alignment with justice, compassion, and selfless service (seva). In Sikh tradition, the highest leaders are those who serve others with humility and courage—not those who command power, but those who empower others.

In today's multipolar world, I believe the most enduring source of moral authority lies in communities that choose to live out these values. Moral clarity emerges when people gather to feed their neighbors, protest injustice, or provide care across divides. We have seen this in grassroots climate justice movements, in global health solidarity efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in mutual aid networks responding to conflict and disaster. These are expressions of what Sikhism calls sangat—the spiritual and moral strength of a collective rooted in shared purpose and ethical action.

As international institutions struggle to find their footing, and individual leaders face crises of legitimacy, I believe we must look to these grounded, community-based expressions of morality. They offer not only a source of hope but a path forward—reminding us that moral authority does not require uniformity or hierarchy, but can flourish when we recognize the divine and the just in one another.

Harnoor Sachar (SFS'26) is a junior in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.