Politicians in China, and elsewhere, should beware the cobra effect

There is a wonderful expression in English called "The law of unintended consequences", which describes situations where you set out to achieve a particular objective and, whether or not you are successful, you also (or instead) get a different result.

In its most extreme form, the outcome is the opposite of what you set out to do, and this is known as "the cobra effect", apparently after the introduction of a scheme in British India which promised a bounty for people who killed snakes led to citizens breeding more snakes so as to claim the reward.

There are three striking examples of the cobra effect in the news recently. The latest was the sudden pledge by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the run-up to the general election that there would never be a Palestine state during his time in office if he were returned. The statement was popular with some right-wing members of the electorate and Netanyahu's Likud party won.

Presumably these voters found the statement reassuring as a commitment to securing a safe future for the beleaguered country. But to many friends of Israel, the outcome is more likely to create greater risk. In their view, and mine, Israel's future can only be secure when a recognised Jewish state lives peacefully alongside an Arab one. Therefore, the immediate consequence of the election gambit is likely to be growing pressure within European parliaments to formally recognise Palestine within its 1967 borders, as the Swedish government has already done and an approach the UK House of Commons - admittedly in a non-binding vote - has endorsed.

More sadly, a new cohort of Palestinian youth will have drawn the conclusion that there is no peaceful route to a reasonable outcome, and the only way their country can be established is through war.

Another own goal has been scored by the US Congress. Five years ago, agreement was reached on reform to the International Monetary Fund's governing arrangements to grant recognition to the increased role played in the global economy by emerging countries such as China. But, apparently as part of an exercise to "contain" China in the economic sphere, Congress declined to approve the necessary changes.