by Roger Fontaine, 2013-01-31
A world without nations?
What would that look like? And what would possibly bring about its realization? Will it arise from a scarcity of resources and the need for centralization of power and police? The failure of the global capitalist financial sectors which control economies and create social wealth could bring about a movement for greater centralization of power and control by the larger industrialized states(G20) and leaders of industry/banks/governments. (World Bank, IMF)
However I feel that in order to look for an answer or solution to this possible future reality one needs to ask ourselves from the position of today: Where is it that we want to go as a global inclusive polity? (political society).
There are many elements which arise in this discussion around the grab for power and resources, and the protection and/or loss of freedom which globalism will entail. This has always been a stumbling block whenever one examines the notion of whether to end nation-states in favour of global integration and assimilation.
Is comprehensive global unification in the best interests of Humanity or is this goal more destructive and provoking war and violence as powerful states fight each other over territory and resources, and individuals battle the authorities over loss of personal freedom and social decision-making?
The perception of a dualistic paradigm leading thinking in modern political economies hampers the progress towards a non-dual and all inclusive paradigm of a new global society which is both respectful of differences or heterogeneity while moving towards integration, inclusiveness and homogeneity.
When one tackles this dilemma from a integrated spiral dynamics paradigm one looks at behaviour not as a dualistic set of extremes of right or wrong, but rather from a circular inclusive pattern of acceptable different behaviours allowing maximum freedoms of expression without posing serious threats to social cohesion. Expressions of social discontent must be preserved above all movement towards integration and inclusiveness.
Besides the elements of power and resources is the social dimension of racism and sexism which many industrialized modern individual nation states have tackled in recent decades and centuries yet we still see strong evidence of regressive discrimination and prejudice against by ethnic majorities against their minorities; apartheid and social and public segregation of populations by sex; the presence of slavery, human-trafficking, and Islamist Sharia Law institutionalizing inequality among the sexes as an example of obstacles to overcome.
What are the benefits of a global village without restriction to displacement or employment?
It poses a definite stress on bureaucracies of local and municipal governments for providing health and education services not to mention immigration and security issues for enforcement of violations. But the more important issue greater than enforcement is who will be called upon to make policy: will it be through elections and democracy (parliamentary proportional representation) or through appointments and assignments from a hierarchical hierarchy autocracy of leadership imposed on the masses.
Will we see an increase or decrease in police and judicial forces to enforce an increase or decrease in laws?
How to protect private property for personal use and sustain increased respect for use of socially shared facilities and services? We have seen too many instances of individuals destroying and treating social and public spaces and furniture as ‘other’ when having no sense of respect or ownership of those spaces and services. What is the mechanism for increasing education of respect for all living beings and all created products, substances, and spaces?
Can we envisage creating a global culture which is increasingly less dependent on inter-generational socialization and which actually works at dismantling and destroying past cultures and histories?
Those who don’t remember and validate authentic histories are subject to replicate those behaviours which are destructive and violent?
What will it take in education and social experience for old habits and customs to become transformed into a more homogeneous social culture slowly releasing old patterns which emphasize differences and separatism rather than integration and inclusiveness?
Who will decide what is acceptable culture and art expression?
The culture bureaucrats will establish policy, dictate what is acceptable and the police will enforce the culture legislations. The danger is that there will be a loss of personal freedom of expression both in print and visual and musical artistic creations.
Who will speak out for the freedoms which may be lost? The artists, musicians, and writers will be the marginal segment of society responsible for opposing status quo when the status quo is or becomes destructive, restrictive, and repressive.