Thirty-five years ago, the world experienced an epochal change with the collapse of the Iron Curtain and communism in Europe. Francis Fukuyama famously called this moment the “end of history” ( 👉 https://lnkd.in/eajjTXmC), predicting that all societies would eventually converge toward liberal democracy and market economies. Today, it is almost a cliché to observe how wrong that prediction was. As Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz here ( 👇 ) argues, we should call the current era the “𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬.” A few arguments for this negativity: 🔴 Climate Crisis Threat: Progress made on climate change mitigation could be reversed, exacerbating global environmental challenges. 🌍🔥 🔴Inequality and Social Division: Trump's policies have historically deepened inequality and could further erode social cohesion, leaving vulnerable communities more at risk. 📉🤝 🔴Damage to International Cooperation: Returning to “America First” policies could weaken alliances, disrupt global cooperation, and harm multilateral institutions. 🌐 Of course, technological advancements will march on. 🤖📈 Of course, wealth will continue to accumulate. 💰 But let’s not mistake these developments for genuine progress or a golden age for nations. 🌍✨ It serves the wealth of a privileged few rather than the wealth of nations. 💰🌍 This so-called "progress" only benefits the oligarchs. 🏦👑 It’s their golden age—not ours. https://lnkd.in/eq9TvGbY
I still have a copy of his book "Globalization and its Discontents" from when I had just finished medical school and started a career track towards global health policy. But disillusionment eventually came from seeing the misuse of power even in liberal spaces and democratic leadership. It seems any hope for reformed capitalism ended with the 2008 bailout which propped up corruption that a truly free market should have weeded out. The social contract was broken at a profound level that fuelled far right rhetoric now manifest as the monstrous Trump-Tech Oligarchy/Technofeudal Fascism or whatever this thing is. If we don't find a way to bridge economic and social divides soon, the end of history will mean much worse than what Fukuyama predicted.
Na de Val van de Muur droomden wij van de verbreiding van de Westerse democratische waarden. Francis Fukuyama verwoordde deze droom op inspirerende wijze en hij had de tijdgeest mee. Met de aansluiting van de Oostbloklanden in Midden Europa bij het vrije Westen leek het in de jaren negentig ook die kant op te gaan. Ook de vriendschappelijk betrekkingen tussen Rusland en het Westen droegen daaraan bij. Fukuyama heeft niet voorzien hoe autocratische en populistische leiders roet in het eten zouden gooien. En hoe democratie en rechtsstaat aan erosie onderhevig zouden worden. Om Fukuyama recht te doen is het zeker van belang te vermelden dat hij allang op zijn vroegere opvattingen is teruggekomen.
Is natuurlijk niet echt een verrassing . . . https://hanstimmerman.me/einde-van-het-kapitalisme/
Insightful perspective! 🌟 How can societies redefine progress to benefit everyone? 🤔 #GlobalChallenges #SocialEquity #FutureOfProgress 🌍
Haven’t all Golden Ages not been beneficial to only 1% while the rest got exploited? The Dutch Golden Age at least was that way. You can’t have equality, democracy and human rights together with uncontrolled, constrained capitalism.
With the greatest respect Hans Stegeman and Joseph Stiglitz, Imagine if the opposite were true? This article is written purely with a US lens. The image of Biden = progress had me aghast. There are five progressive tribes that deserted the Democrats- wellbeing practitioners being just one. What if this is the manifestion of a broken system. The mirror of late stage capitalism or a declining empire. The rest of the world (except Eu) are probably exhaling 😮💨 with a sigh of relief . Concerned about interference in their political landscape or worse being invaded. The US machination is insatiable. Green tech exploiting the global south is not going to save us. Maybe this is the injection the world needs to #decouple from the US and their ways. We are in a polycrisis after all. Maybe the US citizen will wake up one day to realise the meta-model they have been sold is false. Until then, the world can move on. And who knows. Maybe Europe can guide the world again! Triodos Bank is one such example.
The need to reframe "meaningful progress" - a stark overarching reality, Hans Stegeman. Society is way-out-of-balance - with the thick layering of yet more "events" as "symptoms." With the ever-dawning realization of what's nonviable for humanity + a living planet - paradoxically facing sobering perils + life-affirming possibilities. The recommended "Development in Progress" paper by The Consilience Project, also immediately came to mind. This article offers human system perspectives...reflecting on patterns observed + the choices + challenges we face. Perhaps wise for us all to learn HOW to "dance with the metaphorical + real monsters in our midst - up close + on the world stage." ..."We're impacted by the engrained dysfunctional patterns and multipolar traps that we’re uncovering— the very patterns that many of us are diligently working to shift in a variety of big and everyday ways."... Referencing the work of Daniel Schmachtenberger, Nate Hagens, Vanessa Andreotti, Nora Bateson, Riane Eisler, Darcia Narvaez, Dr Iain McGilchrist, Bayo Akomolafe, David Sloan Wilson ++ 🎧 🎶 https://medium.com/@unstitution21/lets-dance-with-monsters-4ed1a5900a83?source=friends_link&sk=0fd00f8e7fe8e1d8e6486e582d48f592 #WisdomWithTeeth
Freelance journalist - specialised in sustainable 🌱 finance 💵 and entrepreneurship 💪 and all things Irish ☘️
1moOf course Fukuyama 's fictional tale was discredited by his mentor, Samuel Huntington, who made a somewhat more accurate analysis...