Long
established patterns have produced all three vectors. None of them are simply
short-term phenomena. The mentalities, structures and practices that have
produced the global climate change and ecological crisis are the deepest
historically, but these have accelerated and widened in their destructive
tendencies dramatically over the past few decades. That recent increase in
scale and acceleration in the speed and extent of such destructiveness is
closely related to the onset and deepening of neoliberal economic globalization
over the past few decades, which has been a crucial driver of the climate
change and global ecological crisis. The present pandemic is to some extent a
consequence of decades of environmental degradation, and increasing destruction
and intrusion by human beings into numerous ecological systems. Now, all the
cumulative entropic tendencies of historical time are being combined and
compressed into the present. The world as we know it is literally breaking
down. We are living in The Great Implosion.
But
we have the greatest capacity for reflexive learning and communication in human
history. Radical transformative praxis is both a product of this history, and
the only hope for the future. As the existing order begins to disintegrate a
new social order must be built through deploying our collective radical
imagination. We shall need new forms of collective human consciousness; a new
type of global social covenant; new forms of appropriate technology; and new
forms of appropriate lifestyle.
The
most existentially threatening of the three crises in the long term is the
climate change and ecological crisis: which itself is accelerating and
deepening as a consequence of neoliberal economic globalization. As the current
pandemic eventually recedes we must refocus our attention on addressing the
climate change and ecological crisis with all urgency, and act together
decisively to reduce global green house gas emissions by half by the year 2030.
The fiscal and monetary response of numerous governments to the present
pandemic may well be a factor leading to a similar and even larger emergency
response to the global climate change crisis. The precedent has now been set
for governments to mobilize resources in the midst of an imminent crisis that
threatens the human security of their population.
The
pandemic is at present further accelerating a crisis in global capitalism:
triggering steep economic contraction; rise in bankruptcies; sequential and
large debt crises; very high unemployment; increasing poverty … Long-term
crisis tendencies have been building in the global system before and after the
great financial crisis of 2008. The ratio of debt to GDP at global level is now
at its highest level in history, and years of quantitative easing combined with
austerity measures have weakened the capacity of both states and society to
cope with a new global financial crisis. Serious disruption of globalized
production and supply chains caused by the pandemic would be amplified in a
systemic financial crisis, with severe damage to all economies and especially
to those in the global south still over dependent on natural resource
extraction and primary commodity export.
The
contraction in economic activity, however, in general reduces local and global
levels of pollution, e.g. the steep reduction in private travel, especially
flying, brings some needed reduction in carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and even
carbon monoxide emissions … thus slowing the rate of increase of cumulative
GHGs in the atmosphere. The pandemic shutdown of polluting industries has
graphically illustrated both the horrific extent of daily ‘normal’ pollution to
the planet by our economic activity, while at the same time paradoxically
showing us exactly how quickly and dramatically we could (and should) reduce
global emissions to address the global climate emergency.
The
combination of all three crises brings the hitherto accelerating linear time of
modernity into deceleration, into a pause. This space provides a time of
awakening … to the deep malaise of our civilization. This awakening will
generate a realization of common interests, producing social compassion and
mutual aid. The crisis is producing a realization that a different social
reality is possible. Where the experience of collective being starts to take
precedence over egoistic individualism.
In
conclusion, these are my hopes for deep restoration: how in the midst of
deepening global crises there will emerge transformation: A deep restoration of
the spiritual inner life of humanity: towards a post materialistic philosophy.
A deep restoration of the awareness of the necessity for maintaining ecological
balance within the context of earth system dynamics. A deep restoration of the
ethics of harmony with the web of life, including not only all species of
creatures but also with the water, the oceans, the forests, and the soils of
the earth, in which we are deeply embedded and mutually interdependent. A deep
restoration of the Culture of Peace, including social peace, founded on bonds
of kindness and mutual respect; and the final realization of international
peace.
This
global culture of peace will be a historical necessity in the near future, as
the great implosion of the existing capitalist world order produces ever
greater danger and an urgency to refocus our resources on preserving life and
transforming our life. Global de-militarization and disarmament will be a
necessary part of this transformation, producing a new type of world order
based on cooperation and mutual support. A deep restoration of the spirit of
human solidarity and unity. New forms of social solidarity and global
solidarity and internationalism are emerging: we must move now rapidly towards
a post nationalist mentality, based on our common human interests. A deep
restoration of the idea and practices of the Commons: strengthening the
principle of collective interests to take full precedence over egoistic
individualism. The idea of the commons in the ‘economy’ and in society will
bring into being a new form of economy, embedding greater equality and
democracy, with decentralized democratic decision making, and post-patriarchal
equality throughout society.
The
time we had grown accustomed to feel and were socialized to understand as
normality, and to regard as the only reality (i.e. the linear time of
capitalist modernity) is now suddenly exposed as only one stream of time. And
that Time is now decelerating … giving us pause. Time to stop. Time to think.
Time to awaken. A different reality is possible. It is we who must respond to
the crisis and collectively create a different future.
Barry Gills
is Editor in Chief of Globalizations and Professor of Development Studies at
the University of Helsinki.
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