Are pandemics simply an unavoidable byproduct of globalization?
What is “globalization”?
We usually use this expression to describe how markets, trades have become global, interconnected. But in systemic terms, looking at the world as a whole system we are all globally interconnected beyond borders, nationalities, cultures, religions, regardless of wealth, power, gender age, social status.
And this is not something Human made. Of course, we are connecting through the Internet and other communication lines, we connect through global travel which became really big in the last few decades, we are inevitably connected through trade, economy, cultures, media, and entertainment.
But this had to unfold this way as we exist in Nature’s fully integral, interdependent system which system we are also part of. Nature’s evolution is a relentless process that drives the whole system towards full, intricate integration and since we are born from this system and still exist in it, evolve with it, we are also inevitably developing towards such an integration.
This is a process that flows without our consent, without even needing our awareness. On the other hand, without being aware of the process our inevitably selfish, individualistic, exploitative nature resists the integration and wants to use the global connections only for one’s personal benefit.
The pandemic — which spread across the globe within record times through the established global channels — showed us two things:
- We are totally interconnected, we depend on each other and we have to become totally responsible towards one another.
- By default, our inherent nature does not want to cooperate with our integral evolutionary conditions, by default we still react selfishly, trying to succeed and survive against each other at each other’s expense.
Thus the pandemic is one side a “byproduct” on the other hand it is a warning.
It warns us that if we want to solve our mounting, global problems — and there are no local, national problems in a global system any longer — and if we want to safeguard our collective Human survival — and there is no individual, national, regional survival in a globally integrated system all us sitting on the same sinking boat — we will need to learn how to accept and use “globalization” in a positive, constructive way for the benefit of the whole above and against the instinctively selfish, individualistic calculations.
Since this a completely new path in Human evolution, a collective, mutually responsible, mutually complementing one above and against our inherent software, we need a unique, practical, and purposeful educational method to prepare ourselves. This time such an “offer” is not made through political ideology, religion, philosophy, or mysticism. We are invited by evolution to accept nature’s “iron laws” governing balance and homeostasis in closed, living, natural systems as the only guarantee of our survival — against ourselves.
