Political ideologies – filling the current void
Seems to me that most political ideologies are on the shelf at the moment. Or maybe they have just gone on leave? Many social scientists currently consider political ideologies dead, but I wouldn’t go that far because it would imply the end of innovative and creative development in the intellectual world. And that wouldn’t only be an unlikely but also disastrous development.
My father was an international entrepreneur already in the 1950's, leading his life and businesses in global ways that were unusual then.
Capitalism and individualism, for instance, are alive and kicking, but then again, they have been since time immemorial, and always will be.
But sure, communism is dead in all but name and socialism today lacks innovative, new ideas. Its proponents keep on repeating the same old slogans that are no longer relevant. And where can you find true conservatism today?
Liberalism or center right politics has been the name of the game for quite some time. But even those ideologies are now being questioned after the global crisis hit and leading economists couldn’t agree on how it could have happened, why it wasn’t spotted and, worse, can’t agree on how to fix it.
Ideologies make politics lively and exciting so it’s most likely just a question of how long it will take before new ideologies take shape. Actually if we don’t, politics will be even more of a status quo than it is, so some new political ideologies would be most welcome.
Maybe it would be an idea to concentrate on globalism for the time being instead? The original use of the word in business context goes back to Harvard Business Review in the 1940′s. The idea signified the freer movement of goods, services, ideas and people around the world. My father was an international entrepreneur already in the 1950′s, leading his life and businesses in global ways that were unusual then. In those days airports were like small clubs where they all knew each other, unlike today when everybody’s flying. How often do we meet people we know at an airport nowadays? Unusual, even in first class lounges. With a father like that it probably makes sense that I’m as international as I am.
In some ways politics is actually getting more and more global. Look at the G20, ASEAN and the EU, for instance. We are more and more taking part in multinational, multicultural alliances attempting to align national politics with international aims for the greater good. The problem is that there are, and has been for a long time, far to many vested interests resulting in agreements only benefitting one group. And as we all know, agreements, or business deals for that matter, that don’t benefit all interests don’t last. So maybe it’s time to try and find long lasting solutions that will increasingly create better terms of living for more people on a global scale?
It is in everybodys interest that we elaborate the global perspective even further and work towards a world where everybody can eat three meals a day, have basic schooling and access to health care. That doesn’t mean that we should leave free markets and the ability to earn a lot of money behind. Cultural and national differences will always be there thankfully, since it would be seriously boring if all human being were all the same.
International issues should be a more important part of new political ideologies. We are just one big integrated global market. Even Coca Cola nowadays considers themselves an international and not just an American company. So why shouldn’t politics follow suit? After all where would Coca Cola be today if they had concentrated on only the US?
(Re-published on request)
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Tags: ASEAN, capitalism, Coca Cola, communism, entrepreneur, EU, G20, globalism, Harvard, individualism, international, liberalism, multicultural, multinational, political ideologies, socialism
October 25th, 2009 at 15:53
You know Paulo there are lot's of obstacles. Am aware of that.
But the trend for the future is that politics will become more and more global. The US, EU & Japan will not be dominating in the future. The power will shift to India, China and Saudi/Gulf states. So who will then feel that it's unequal?
Trust me, I'm very good at picking out important trends and international politics is definitely one. By the time politics is truly international I will have passed on, but you may be able to vitness it, at least for a while.
Unfortunately the world will neve3r be equal because whatever vested interests there are will see to that. But I don't see why politics moving more and more to the global arena would make matters worse?
April 5th, 2010 at 12:48
I am fairly familiar with the process of getting elected to higher office in the U.S. It seems that some people do it because they’re driven by ego. Others do it because they have a vision. As their political careers grow so does the cost for the office. That often results in having to engage in heavy finances. At that point it seems that interests grous make an investment in the candidate. All the while, any candidate that dares to swim upstream seems to have to deal with the pressures of the establishment.
Can a true visionary get to a major office without compromise? Yes. Can that visionary lead the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches to effect positive change? The optimist in me says that the answer is yes. The realist says that it will be an extremely difficult challenge made more so with the intensive media.
What are your thoughts about visionaries rising to power in Europe?
April 5th, 2010 at 14:06
You know David the US is the worst when it comes being elected without having interests groups behind you. Not least now since your Supreme Court ruled that a company = a person when it comes to political funding. So chances of an independent visionary being elected in the US are slim. Especially if he/she goes against a powerful interest group. More likely in Europe, but still difficult.
April 6th, 2010 at 12:08
This planet is worth millions of trillions and it belongs to us all. Later or sooner all humanity is going to want to represent their own vested interests in order to better distribute responsibilities and the recompense that goes with it.
I’m betting on a move from representative democracy to a participative democracy. Not a quick move, but eventually. I’m hoping that individuals and groups via Internet, game theory and economic incentives will start to participate in global decision-making. While at the same time transparency and ethics may become more common.
I don’t want expound my theory here, but representative democracy was a social innovation 250 years ago today there are only a few who are duped and don’t really know who elected representative represent. Still democracy and ideological evolution may be, at least for the time being, our best social organization.
April 6th, 2010 at 16:32
Interesting ideas in your comment Michael.
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April 8th, 2010 at 08:49
Glad you enjoyed it Tyson.
April 13th, 2010 at 07:42
I completely agree with your statements towards a more participative democracy instead of a representative role. We have tried some experience regarding this issue here. For example, in some local councils, citizens can participate directly into budget decisions. A percentage of the budget is taken apart from the main portion and it's submitted to all citizens, along with a list of detailed projects that can be financed with that budget's portion.
Anyway, I think there's a major problem concerning participative democracy. It's worth nothing if you don't focus your efforts into maximizing critical thinking. Otherwise, you'll have same problems than with representative democracy, with masses being led towards opinions created by media and advert campaigns from political marketing experts. Make people inmune to that kind of persuasion and your participative democracy will be a lot healthier.
April 13th, 2010 at 10:45
It sounds like you’re creating problems yourself by trying to solve this issue instead of looking at why their is a problem in the first place
April 13th, 2010 at 09:18
Maybe you can enlighten us all about why there is a problem in the first place?
April 13th, 2010 at 09:33
Interesting comment Oriol. Agree that no matter how you do it there are problems to be overcome. Always has been – always will be.
April 13th, 2010 at 09:35
Yes that's the thing isn't it? Democracy is the best option, at least for the time being. Not perfrect but the best alternative at the moment.
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