Dear Sam & Oisín,
Sam is right (26/9 10:34 +0100) that I could throw in a lot of
possible (short and long term) fixes for "the
impoverished and disintegrated societies on which terrorism feeds
and to which terrorism restores bits of self-esteem". As I wrote
23/9 23:51 +0200 to Rog, I am (just like you two) "hesitant to
suggest ... (more) financial development aid ... Financial aid
could be part of a package also containing measures to stimulate
trade
(preferably regional rather than global) and direct investment
(re-investing profits and utilizing local staff, not importing
too much foreign experts who pretend to know better than the
locals 'how to fish'). Political stability is also essential, of
course, so measures should be taken to stimulate regional
co-operation (economic and otherwise) and to curb trade in
weapons." The "'Jubilee' idea of writing off debts" [of countries
with low national income and relatively high debts] (Oisín 29/9
1:43 +0100) would be one of my fixes, too, with reservations
comparable to Oisín's: it should be done in a way that doesn't
stimulate States to go on lending money and spending it
irresponsibly. Microcredit (Oisín) and Intermediate technology
(Sam) would be on my list, too. I would certainly add Local
Exchange Trade Systems and other types of financial micro
initiatives (collective saving schemes, interest free local money
etc.). In the end such fixes are not the real solution however
(and not something we should discuss in detail on this list).
As Oisín wrote 29/9 1:43 +0100:
"Our intellects always want to figure out a solution that we just
apply once, but societies need an evolution that you practice
over the course of time, and evolution is by no means a steady
increase of quality."
This remembered me of John B. writing 20/9 21:46 +1000:
"As Wilber makes clear in his recent books, though, progression
through the moral hierarchy cannot be short circuited. What must
be done is to provide the support that allows each individual to
move on, and not become stuck in a low level moral stance. Yet to
do this actually entails valuing every level of the moral
hierarchy, since none can be avoided. Each is grown through in
each individual life journey."
What's true of individuals (need for support at each level of the
moral hierarchy) might be true of societies also. The real tricky
thing is to suppose that "they" are part of another, less moral
society and need our support (supposing we are already more moral
and know what they need at their level). Maybe "they" are indeed
part of a social pattern of values that is on a lower (sub)level
(of the social level) than ours, but at the same time society
today is a global society: they are also part of a social pattern
of values of which we are a part too. This social pattern of
values requires "haves" and "have-nots" for its functioning.
Handing out recipes (be it the recipes that presumable made us
into "haves" or "intermediate recipes" that are more tailored to
their situation) won't work as long as that global social pattern
of values of which we are a part too doesn't change.
I'll come back to that when I have more time.
With friendly greetings,
Wim Nusselder
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