Modern states still follow the practices of ancient times when laws were introduced to regulate and direct their people. In the Bible the Deuteronomy formulates a code of laws which include the Ten Commandments. Clearly, the objective was to establish among Moses’s wandering tribes a sense of self-discipline which would be conducive to the prevalence of harmony within that society. The Torah added to biblical rules.

In Mesopotamia the code of Hammarubi had similar aims, that is, to determine their people’s behaviour and lay the foundation of an ordered kingdom. Later on, Rome applied the Justinian Code and, relatively more recently, Napoleon Buonaparte wanted a standard code for all French people, notably based on equality. Today, his Civil Code is essentially the basis of many European legal systems.

Not all members of a community are adaptable, obedient and responsive to laws. In all societies there are impulsive characters who consider personal benefit to be more important than the observance of regulations. They reason that punishment is only meted out if the offender is caught by the enforcing authority.

Consequently, more institutions had to be established. Judges were appointed to investigate and examine infringements, evaluate the gravity of transgressions and recommend punishment to enforce the law to serve as a deterrent to potential law-breakers.

Other factors which may contribute to create a stable society must be discovered. These should be based on nurturing a sound character formation

Sadly, history proves that not even judges were as conscientious and exhaustive as expected. The code of Hammarubi had enacted that in the case of wrong conclusions, a judge would be liable to a fine and to a forced resignation. Today, in democratic countries, judges are normally removed by Parliamentary impeachment or as in a recently enacted Bill in Malta, they can be suspended or fined.

Nevertheless, laws and courts do not bring order by themselves. A country has to be continuously monitored to prevent the ill-intentioned from inflicting injury and/or hardship on neighbours. Throughout the ages, in a number of countries, guardians were set up to ensure that observance of rules prevailed within the place. Apparently, their effectiveness was not as efficient as desired.

Robert Peel, a British prime minister, while serving as home secretary, introduced a new police corps in London in 1829. Peel’s objective was to prevent crimes from being committed within the city boundary. His experiment succeeded and other British cities and towns appointed these bobbies, as they were called, to guarantee that laws were strictly observed.

Doubtlessly, the police has a gargantuan task to protect all the inhabitants of any particular region and to prevent crime. It is not an easy undertaking to book all transgressors and present them to the courts. Loopholes within laws are commonly detected; some adventurous people are prepared to break the law as long as they get their way.

Even modern technological equipment is not sufficient to discover all infringements to bring to book those who break the law at will.

Since in many countries criminality is on the increase, one can conclude that laws, courts and police are not enough to establish order within a country. Therefore, other factors which may contribute to create a stable society must be discovered. These should be based on nurturing a sound character formation amenable to respect one’s neighbour and conscious of the needs of others.

Let me limit myself to three considerations. In the first place the example given by leaders and role models is crucially important. Do they themselves behave unquestionably according to the laws or do they lay down rules and then conduct themselves in a biased manner? If citizens perceive that their leaders do not show any respect for the laws of the land they feel free to break the laws themselves in spite of their being aware that if caught they would suffer the consequences.

A second point in the creation of a harmonious society is through education which most definitely is not just learning to pass examinations. Education should help develop the mind, target the formation of character and nurture a sense of responsibility in all contemplated activities.

Next, I wish to emphasise the relevance of sports education and activities as an invaluable determinant in the acquisition of a sense of commitment, fairness and responsibility.

They help participants to see the wider picture rather than concentrate on benefits to self. In the book Exotic Chung the governor of a Chinese province had the following ideas about sports:

“Sports activities carry quite a number of inherent advantages, like building on teamwork which helps reciprocal understanding, cooperation and coordination. Furthermore, a spirit of responsibility will be nurtured within the group as each individual has to play his or her assigned role… generate respect for others and for authority by having to follow the rules; they inculcate an urge for determination which ultimately should strengthen one’s will to succeed by never giving up even in the face of failure.

“All these points lead to strong character formation, bring out a balanced personality of gentleman or lady who cherishes values, sportsmanship and loyalty tothe institutions…”

All those countries that follow these three factors, at least, have positive ranking in the Human Development Index, in the International Transparency Index, and have low crime rates and substantially encouraging economic growth rates.

Manuel Borda holds a PhD in economics and is the author of four novels.