“It is clear that the nations of the world now can rise and fall together. It is not the question of one nation winning at the expense of another. We must all help one another or all perish together.” Astronomer Carl Sagan
In our post-globalized 21st century, the world is more interconnected and interdependent than ever. Our doings affect one another economically, socially, culturally, and politically — a virus that broke out in Wuhan, China kept the global population indoor for almost two years; a jammed canal in Suez, Egypt caused shortage in basic goods half the planet away; a viral video or post can propel any of us to international fame; refugee crisis triggered by regional wars and unrest can reshape the political landscape in neighboring countries; climate change affects us all no matter where we are… Whether you are left or right, rich or poor, young or old, educated or not; regardless of your culture, religion, race, nationality, gender or sexual-orientation… no one is left out; no one is immune.
The world’s interconnectedness and interdependence exponentially increase the amount of uncertainties, ambiguity, complications and unknowns we face in our everyday lives. If in the late 20th century we only had to get a good education and move to a thriving city to have a decent living, in the 21st century there are no such guarantees. And as much as our problems are interlocked, so are the solutions. It is therefore more urgent than ever for all of us to work together to address our biggest common threats: the abuse of disruptive technologies, the polarization of social media, misinformation and disinformation, social injustice, extreme inequality of wealth, the unpredictability of climate change, the resulting conflicts in affected regions, the disillusionment of democratic solutions and international collaboration, rise of populism and authoritarianism, and limitation of human rights and freedom.
However, not everyone wants to work together. We have conflicting goals and incompatible problem-solving approaches. Also, some of us want to take advantage of the chaos for their own gains (see World).
For those of us who see the importance of collaboration, below is a concept that could help us collectively navigate our complex, fast-changing world despite differences and bullies: defensive collaboration.
Do you have any suggestions, doubts, hypothesis or experience for this topic? Please comment below 👇!
