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Baraka_Guru · 08-27-2010, 05:56 AM

It might seem silly at first, but if you make an analogy between American foreign policy and the current shifting structure of much of global society, you will see a very distinct difference.

Looking at communication, technology, and economy within the context of education, industry, business, and even leisure time, you will see a huge shift has occurred since the 20th century. What was once a predominantly limited, one-way (or at best two-way), and authoritarian structure for all of these things are now moving into the realm of open source, collaborative, and citizen-driven structures.

Whereas before research, knowledge, power, and communication were controlled by the few, these things are now accessible and influenced by masses. The barriers to entry in most realms of human endeavor have dropped if not disappeared completely. We have citizen journalists, amateur scientists, and nationless (yet global) group politics all contributing to how we shape our individual societies and our international relationships. We now have more connections to politics, whether direct or indirect. The masses generally have more influence now than they ever have before.

If you take a look at the big picture, and look at the long view, you will see America's policies abroad as brontosaurian. The image of the unilateral, neoliberal, authoritarian superpower is looking rather dated. It looks as though it's about to enter an age in which it cannot survive. Much like the dinosaurs.

One argument behind why the dinosaurs died out is because they were too specialized. Look at the T-rex. It was probably the most devastating hunter in the history of biology. But it didn't survive. Why? Because it couldn't adapt fast enough to a changing environment. It was too good at what it did and not good enough at doing other stuff—the kind of stuff that was required to thrive in a changing world.

Is America like the T-rex? I dunno. Maybe I'm just being silly.

08-27-2010, 05:56 AM	#39 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	It might seem silly at first, but if you make an analogy between American foreign policy and the current shifting structure of much of global society, you will see a very distinct difference. Looking at communication, technology, and economy within the context of education, industry, business, and even leisure time, you will see a huge shift has occurred since the 20th century. What was once a predominantly limited, one-way (or at best two-way), and authoritarian structure for all of these things are now moving into the realm of open source, collaborative, and citizen-driven structures. Whereas before research, knowledge, power, and communication were controlled by the few, these things are now accessible and influenced by masses. The barriers to entry in most realms of human endeavor have dropped if not disappeared completely. We have citizen journalists, amateur scientists, and nationless (yet global) group politics all contributing to how we shape our individual societies and our international relationships. We now have more connections to politics, whether direct or indirect. The masses generally have more influence now than they ever have before. If you take a look at the big picture, and look at the long view, you will see America's policies abroad as brontosaurian. The image of the unilateral, neoliberal, authoritarian superpower is looking rather dated. It looks as though it's about to enter an age in which it cannot survive. Much like the dinosaurs. One argument behind why the dinosaurs died out is because they were too specialized. Look at the T-rex. It was probably the most devastating hunter in the history of biology. But it didn't survive. Why? Because it couldn't adapt fast enough to a changing environment. It was too good at what it did and not good enough at doing other stuff—the kind of stuff that was required to thrive in a changing world. Is America like the T-rex? I dunno. Maybe I'm just being silly. __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot Last edited by Baraka_Guru; 08-27-2010 at 05:58 AM..