A Very Short History of Humankind: from Hunter Gatherers to a Cohesive Society?

by Dr. Ian G. Haffenden

In describing Humankind it is useful to use generally accepted labels that represent social development and characterise organisational and implicit cultural expectations within. I will adhere to that here.

Humankind’s organisation and development appears to have taken a number of shifts due mainly to technological advancements and social need. Initially we see, through archaeological analysis, a move from family groups to tribal groupings with these developing over time and size into Nations States. Much of this was due to the initial move from hunter gatherer to more stable living conditions as a result of better agricultural and animal husbandry techniques. Through expansion and ambition some Nation States came to form Empires through the effective colonisation of other tribal groups and Nation States. This was achieved by force and superior military capability. Colonialism was characterised by “control and take” and was often supplemented by some form of Feudal management of the colonial areas. The growth of Empires, aided subsequently in the West by the industrial revolutions, led to the development of Capitalism - an economic and political system where by all means of production and distribution are entrusted to and effected by private enterprise for profit. This saw a move from the “control and take” of colonialism to “competitive markets to exploit” view of the capitalists. The nature of these times and capitalist enterprise required large controlled labouring classes, of workers, at the bottom of the social pyramid to enable maximum profit for the owners at the top.

Poor wages and conditions for these large number of working classes, as a consequence of producing profit for the owners, led through analysis to the development of Hegel/ Marxist ideology and a belief that equality in fairer and proportionate reward for labour was necessary. The liberty of a few to be rich at the expense of other’s labour and misery was rejected. These ideas saw a rise of Communism as an ideal – the vesting in a community with each member working to their capability and receiving according to their needs. However, in practise it was only ever realised as state Socialism – where all means of production and distribution are owned and controlled by the state.

As a result of this Humankind became philosophically in conflict over the political balance of liberty versus equality. The utilitarianism appeal of socialism, under the ethics of communism are clear compared to the dog-eat-dog realisation of capitalism. The appeal of more democratic equitable society led to the creation of socialists states in large areas of the World. Two of the three potentially most powerful World states - the Russian Federation (in it’s different forms) and Chinajointly referred to as the East - becoming socialist. These then became a clear concern to those remaining Capitalist economies of the West (the USA, former colonial powers and the EU); particularly it’s flag bearer the USA. Their power base and influence was under threat. The initial response was to contain the expansion of socialist states by force. These efforts led to all manner of atrocities by the West in order to stem the rise and spread of “fairness to all” of the expanding socialist ideals of the East.

In time, the Capitalists economies were able to stem the drift to the socialist left and survive. Two factors enabled this in particular. Firstly, computerisation led to a significant reduction in the need for a large scale and potentially challenging labour forces at home and the disruption they can bring about if unionised. Secondly, the hegemony of the third major power America, in exploiting cheap and easily managed labour forces in less developed counties across the globe. This continued to fuel their need to expand in able to fulfil (one of the myths under the market economy of Capitalism) continual market growth.

The power and control of the Capitalist economy thus continued to thrive. Further to this, following changes in the attitudes and approaches of the leadership in Russia and the subsequence collapse of the Berlin wall (seen symbolic of the divide between the West and East) it was taken by the West that they had finally toppled the ideals of the East and could now control and rule alone.

Seemingly unopposed, new enemies were created by the West – Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria.- to provide for new areas to exploit (especially for oil) and so as to fuel their arms industry treasuries. With the excessive, often lawless, domination and attempts to control the global economy, through sanctions and hegemony the West progressed into the twenty-first century. This then led, in turn, to a degree of complacency. While recognising the rise in China (then a quarter of the World’s population) there was still a belief that this could be managed. Firstly, by the further weakening Russia through sanctions and a phony war in Ukraine. Secondly, through strengthening the role and position of the USA-led, Non Government Organisation, NATO. Then thirdly, through undermining and sanctioning China. These ideas while seemingly clear in theory, however, came to backfire on them, with enormity, in practice.

What has came about - as the American plan for continued global dominance took form - was a sudden realisation and clarity by many states across the World of the extent to which America, the former colonial powers and their financial institutions (with the power of the dollar) had been bulling and congealing through a ‘divide and rule’ strategy, against their better interests. Particularly in Africa and the Middle East.

The response was surprisingly quick. It saw a relatively speedy unification of many states against the now clearly seen hegemony of the West. The non Western World as a whole shifted. It recognised explicitly the disruptive nature and disloyalty of the Western exploitative powers and sought a clear distinction and wish for more peace, co-operative and cohesive times. Moreover, this sudden shift in viewpoint and it’s realisation became for once possible to achieve.

What changed was there was now a way out, from the controls of the hegemonic West, by the rise and creation of a viable alternative. This became possible through the development of a New World Order under a unification of Russia, China and other major international financial heavy weights such as India and Brazil, via the creation of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). This became a means of replacing the previous controlling institutions of the West (such as the IMF). Moreover, a coordinated move away from the dollar by these countries, and others wishing to join them, further created a new and significant power base and alternative to that being previously imposed. BRICS quickly gained support and surpassed the economically significant the G7 nations. Effectively, the intentions of the West (America in particular) had been outmanoeuvred through the coordinated response from the East.

The alternative model, now on offer, is based on mutual trade and benefit. It’s a win-win reward based system. It’s not based on the often warmongering and sanctions-based punishment model of the West. The latter being heavily financed through weapon production and sales. The new alternative model is very appealing, especially in the wider context of humanity today.

To conclude, whereas at a time of labour intensive capitalism the move towards a more socialist model, as forecast by Hegel/ Marxist analysis, was natural in that context. It is now argued here that the subsequent changes to the global economy and workforce along with the concerns of it’s inhabitants (pollution, the need to be Green, Global Warming etc.) suggest that a new emerging model is required with a greater emphasise on Cohesion – facts and acts that contribute to a united whole. That such a model, is beginning to form out of the New World Order is very encouraging. This needs to continue. Both capitalist and socialist countries need place far greater weigh on this concept moving forward if humanity is to have a future.