A Global Picture…
“A Thought and a Smile…”
By Eelco H. Dykstra, M.D.
When we use a global perspective, we see a beautiful planet on which we can find ample polarization and distrust. When these would further escalate, we might end up living in a world that is increasingly fragmented with low(er) levels of societal cohesion.
Not a very attractive prospect.
High time therefore to build bridges and cross the divides!
Do we perhaps cause fragmentation ourselves because we cannot stop pigeonholing others by race, religion, gender, age, clothing, behaviour, social class, birthplace, or you name it? Do we perhaps cause antagonism ourselves by focusing more on what separates us instead of what unites us?
Well, we don’t know really, do we?
But the following questions do pop up.
How did we end up fragmented and in an antagonistic state?
Who is building bridges?
Who is crossing the divides?
Let’s use that global perspective and take a closer look.
Following WWII, the United States government and its allies created a ‘rules’-based approach to global governance, one that is spearheaded by the United Nations (UN) and the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
With a strong focus on economic development and the US-dollar, a ‘Western’ model appeared that produced economic growth, prosperity and ‘stability’ but is now increasingly being questioned and criticized.
Among the reasons for this scrutiny are concerns related to ENVIRONMENT and GOVERNANCE.
ENVIRONMENT
Ever since the Club of Rome’s 1972 report “Limits to Growth”, people increasingly realize that the over-exploitation of our planet’s resources has reached critical levels. Add recent dramatic declines in biodiversity (up to 74%!), the effects of climate change, mass migration and pollution, and it becomes understandable why so many are now talking about the need for a global ‘transition’ and ‘regeneration’.
All around the world, we see a plethora of member-owned communities emerging without centralized leadership. These include Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAO’s) but also nature-based, bioregional nodes and communities.
All of them motivated to widen the scope of economy beyond just money and finance. All of them sensing that the question of ‘price’ is secondary to the question of ‘value’.
All of them wanting a world more aligned with ‘laws of nature’ than with ‘laws of man’.
GOVERNANCE
We see a global power shift away from Western geopolitical dominance towards a more multipolar global order. This is largely caused by the emerging BRICS+ network of currently 22 countries – plus another 14 in the waiting room – as well as the lack of an executive mandate for the United Nations.
There are governments that consider the BRICS+ network as an opposing force or as an alternative to Western coalitions such as the European Union (29 members) or NATO (32 members). Criticism from these antagonistic governments includes statements like: “The West only applies international law and norms when it suits their own interests”. Other governments, however, see being part of BRICS+ as an add-on to reduce vulnerability (“strategic hedging”). Examples of the latter include India, Turkey (also a NATO member!), and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
All right then, enough “Thought” in a column about fragmentation and antagonism. Let’s move – in the absence of a “Smile” -, to an “Upward Curl” with the two remaining questions: Who is building bridges? Who is crossing the divides?
Well, answering those questions is not that difficult.
Building bridges – between environmental concerns and the challenges of governance.
Crossing divides – between autonomous organizations, private sector, populations, international alliances and national governments.
Well, isn’t that exactly what DIPLOMATS do?
Yes, it is but remember that building bridges and crossing divides in practice – and not just in speeches or on paper… – requires an executive mandate.
So, we end this column with two quotes:
- “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” (Einstein)
- “It takes a single flame to light many candles.” (Buddha/Gandhi/Tolstoy)
So, dear Diplomats, stay curious, look for an executive mandate – and be that flame!
About the author:
Once dubbed a ‘Global Nomad’ in East Africa, Eelco H. Dykstra is a seasoned international crisis and emergency expert. As a true ‘Prac-Ademic’, he blends – also in his column “A Thought and a Smile” – his innate optimism with knowledge from his practical experience and rigorous fact-finding.
Aside from being founder/chair of the Daily Impact Emergency Management (DIEM) network and a visiting professor in South Africa, he initiated the ’20/20 Vision’ program for the dual purpose of strengthening value-based resilience and overcoming the obstacles that stand in the way of implementing lessons (to be) learned. Eelco has been a correspondent, written multiple books and articles and continues to work extensively with media, government, business, NGO’s and community-based initiatives. In short, Eelco is a transdisciplinary and trans-cultural multi-tasker – just like diplomats are.
Among his hobbies are cooking and playing the cello – see picture, taken by Tom Manning, during an impromptu performance with the Soweto Youth Orchestra.
Eelco H. Dykstra Professor (visiting), Adaptation and Resilience, University of South-Africa, UNISA. Chair, ’20/20 Vision’ Program: How do we go from ‘Risk’ to ‘Resilience”? Founder, Daily Impact Emergency Management (DIEM) Network
www.diem.nu www.20outof20.vision / eelco.dykstra@diem.nu
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