Towards A New World Order: The Case for Cohesion.
by Dr. Ian G. HaffendenIntroduction.
My personal mission in life has always been, as far as possible, to facilitate improvement in the human condition. With this in mind, and thinking pragmatically, I have previously attempted to look at how our existing conflicting systems of governance (capitalism & socialism) could be made to work better under ideas of Socio-capitalism. My form of Socio-capitalism was underpinned by ideas of freedom and equality being redefined in terms of “… liberty with a conscience” and “…. equality in diversity”. The focus was on a practical iterative approach to moving forward towards a better World.
Here I will go one step further. It is time to be a little more radical in the light of a very changing World.
What seems clear is the World, over the next decades, will be rapidly changing and will move to a New World Order. We are moving from the Old World that was subject to over-arching eras of colonialism followed by capitalism. From the colonialism of ‘control and take’ to the capitalism of ‘competitive markets to exploit’. We are now, however, shifting to a new era and a wider belief in a more holistic approach to saving the planet and the human species; in part from itself. A move to a greater appreciation and need, for true international partnerships and not ones based of the old hegemonic practices.
The problem thus becomes one of changing the existing “mind set” particularly in the West, driven by the American individualistic view of: “strategic market competitors” to a more helpful view and holistic “mind set” of: “strategic partnerships for mutual gain”.
A Way Forward.
To create a more holistic approach requires, for human beings, a new and understandable, supportive rationale and value base. We need to replace the focus on notions of freedom (we never actually had) and equality (that was never going to be achievable) with something new and tangible, whilst accommodating those existing needs. Something that can be understood and valued to work towards.
Ideas around fraternity suggest a holistic alternative, but fraternity is, as a concept on its own, not specific enough. However, notions of fraternity through a value base provided by cohesion is a possibility. Cohesion being: “The action or fact of forming a united whole”. This would provide the holistic ‘value base’ required here. The vision of the New World Order becomes a vision of forming a “United Whole”. Although separated globally, by different cultures, development and resources, all would be focusing on a more valued working: cooperatively and cohesively with each other. Working toward a workable ‘forming of a united whole’ …….and rejecting the existing model of exploitative markets that benefit one, over the other.
The focus of all activity moves from individualism and/or equitable practise, to actions that all and equitable individuals can contribute to the ‘united whole for everyone’. Contributing and working towards the opening up and provision of resources for the common good of the whole, making lives work for all those involved and forming a united whole: a more united and war-free World.
It is clear from the above, there would need to be a fundamental change in the global ‘mind set’ for such a holistic World to come about. It would also seem likely that this would be easier from a more socialist starting point to achieve than from a more capitalist normative-consensus viewpoint
based on human capital. In any society, however, through societal evolution and education, new and changing norms can and do come about.
A New Outlook is Required.
In a more cohesive World the individual imperative becomes: How can my life and work contribute toward and aid the ‘united whole’. Whether this be, in global terms, for the environment, for all life forms in general, including humanity, it’s survival and longevity or to personal life opportunities.
To start, we need policies and practices that are contributing to or have elements that contribute towards ‘forming a united whole’ for society. Also to a united World made up of states that contribute to this vision and value base.
Globally, this would be looking at resources, development and transport systems, problem solving and exploration that would contribute. Recognising differences in culture, and respecting those differences, yet working in true collaboration to facilitate a natural need for world cohesion for humanity to survive as a whole.
Locally, it would mean, working with respect and promotion of workable social structures that enable a free and fair distribution of information and relevant education, informative and creative analytical decision making and democratic practises along cohesive lines. The opening up of resources and the pulling together of people.
To implement this, a new value base on which to develop society, would initially require regional oversight. This would include the appropriate identification of roles and role attributes. A role and work specification evaluation. The asking of questions such as: what can I, we, our family, our community do to contribute to a pulling together for the formation of a united whole? Within this would be the identification and promotion of realistic expectations based on appropriate accountability structures.
To achieve this it would be necessary to move to a meritocratic society. A society underpinned by merit based in recognising the value attributed on individuals’ contribution, commitment, and support (at whatever level) for actions that aid the united whole in: society, employment terms (work/labour), the community, and the family unit within it. This would be recognised, profiled and recorded.
Thus, merit attributed for a commitment to cohesive work practises and action will become recognised and valued and then rewarded by the system: locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
In this manner, resources, opportunities, support, aid, and contracts would be prioritised to areas, communities, businesses, organisations and individuals based on their identified cohesive activities, action and practise. At whatever level, everyone would be encouraged to be working, living and trying to contribute towards a better united whole for all (as well as themselves) within that. Individuals attributes would be valued and focused onto their contribution to the cohesive whole.
It is obvious from this that the prejudices, bias, nepotism, accumulation of resources, finance and control by any elitist minority would need to be eliminated. Elitist practice and practises, especially based on finance or ‘stockpiling’ would need to be slowly regulated out. It would be necessary for there to be controls on any form of elitist practice or ‘unregulated’ resource stockpiling. For a fairer and more cohesive civilisation, this would naturally lead to the nationalisation of all basic amenities to include: energy, water, structural-transport, health and education. This would be achieved
through the introduction of (international) national, regional, and local regulatory policy and practice along with an appropriate cohesive needs-based profiled reward structures to ‘treat’ those supporting the common good.
Education for a New World Order.
As is clear with any attitudinal refocusing and change, however small, education at all levels, from primary through secondary to further, higher and adult, plays a vital element in the process. The curriculum content, development, organisation and delivery will need to be based on the principles and values of cohesion. The working, pulling together and the formation of a better, united and inclusive World. One that is fit for everyone.
This would in no way remove the importance of individuals individuality and differences in attributes and ability. Only these would be seen and valued in there contribution to human endeavour and betterment. Personal competition and achievement that enables an advancement for the betterment of all would be encouraged. This would be valued, recorded, recognised and rewarded as such. Hence, the single national education system would be differentiated for need, types and levels of ability, creativity etc. and deliver the knowledge, skills and competence required for the national societal and work place needs of a more cohesive World.
That said, it is recognised that any form of educational innovation and reform, with what can be seen as prefigurative approaches attached, can only succeed when the wider society is changing it’s own culture, structure and accountability expectations at a similar pace. Any failure to recognise this leads to the process of what I have previously called ‘purification’. Where the old practises become distilled out from the new.
To succeed the new curriculum, it’s content and value system that underpins it, needs to be made constant and consistently clear. The New Curriculum would need to deliver what one might term: ‘Cohesive Knowledge’. This would include the basic philosophical approaches and an understanding of the new ‘mindset’ described above. It would also address how in the past, within the contemporary cultures of the times, inventions, developments and discoveries etc. were not put to appropriate use or valued as they would be in the current holistic understandings seen necessary for a more cohesive World of today.
For example, all history and historical narratives would not only cover events and their consequences for those times, but also consider how they contributed to the misappropriation of resources, selective stockpiling and elitism that is now in need of rectifying today: globally and locally. Similarly, in relation to Law. Any system of law based on an acceptance of the (flawed) right to ‘personal ownership’ that doesn’t take into account the need for cohesion, is not acceptable, without proper regulation and controlled restrictions.
To conclude, a more holistic New World Order could to be achieved by the promotion of new system of governance based on cohesive values. This would require a refocusing and a fundamental shift in perceptions to enable the affirmation of a new and agreed merit-based system to be introduced. It would also need to see, appropriate changes to policy and practice supported by a new system for accountability. The new cohesive system, it is argued here, would provide for a ‘common sense’ and ‘fairness to all’ approach that can facilitate the survival of humanity and a better future for humankind and the planet.
