Human Civilization at a Crossroads: Authoritarian Decline vs. Unprecedented Abundance

Introduction

A brand new scientific examine printed within the journal Foresight concludes that human civilization is on the point of the following ‘big leap’ in evolution. Nevertheless, progress could possibly be thwarted by centralized far-right political initiatives such because the incoming Donald Trump administration.

“Industrial civilization is dealing with ‘inevitable’ decline as it’s changed by what may turn into a much more superior ‘post-materialist’ civilization primarily based on distributed superabundant clear vitality. The principle problem is that industrial civilization is dealing with such fast decline that this might derail the emergence of a brand new and superior ‘life-cycle’ for the human species”, commented Dr Nafeez Ahmed, writer of the paper, member of The Membership of Rome, member of the Earth4All Transformational Economics Fee and Distinguished Fellow on the Schumacher Institute for Sustainable Programs.

Important Merchandise

The brand new paper synthesizes an unlimited physique of scientific literature throughout the pure and social sciences to supply a brand new concept of the rise and fall of civilizations in historical past. It finds that civilizations evolve via a four-stage life-cycle of progress, stability, decline and transformation, encompassing each material-technological in addition to cultural-organizational change. Industrial civilization right this moment, the paper concludes, is transferring via the ultimate levels of its life-cycle – decline – which additionally means it’s on the cusp of transformation. The paper examines a variety of empirical information exhibiting that a complete new material-technological system is rising on a planetary scale because the outdated industrial order declines.

The paper demonstrates that the rise in authoritarian politics, together with reactionary efforts to guard fossil fuels, is among the many components that would jeopardize civilization. Central to this decline is the worldwide lower in Vitality Return On Funding (EROI) for oil, fuel, and coal – a problem that may be mitigated by transitioning to scrub vitality sources, the place EROI is exponentially bettering.

Main technological improvements equivalent to clear vitality, mobile agriculture, electrical automobiles, synthetic intelligence and 3D printing are set to massively improve the fabric capabilities of human civilization between the 2030s via to 2060. Mixed, and if rigorously designed, these new materials capabilities may create new types of ‘networked superabundance’ that defend earth methods. Whereas they may create unparalleled prosperity, these applied sciences are inherently distributed and decentralized, and can’t be ruled by outdated centralized industrial hierarchies. That is making a widening gulf between what the paper calls the “industrial working system” and the rising new system – which is resulting in main political and cultural disruptions in world affairs. Rising authoritarianism, the paper warns, may fatally disrupt the emergence of a brand new life-cycle for civilization.

Ahmed concludes:

“A tremendous new risk house is rising, the place humanity may present itself superabundant vitality, transport, meals and data with out hurting the earth. This could possibly be the following big leap in human evolution. But when we fail to genuinely evolve as people by rewiring how we govern these rising capabilities responsibly and for the good thing about all, they could possibly be our undoing. As a substitute of evolving, we’d regress – if not collapse. The rise in authoritarian and far-right governments around the globe, will increase this grave threat of collapse. The incoming Donald Trump administration, with its dedication to elevating fossil fuels whereas gutting clear vitality – in addition to its concentrate on centralizing energy alongside ethnonationalist traces – may stop us efficiently transferring via the planetary part shift to the following stage of human evolution.”

In regards to the Creator

Nafeez Ahmed is a famend methods theorist and forecaster who has predicted a few of the most important occasions of the final 20 years. Ahmed initially launched his analysis on the UN Summit of the Future in August, the place he spoke on the UN Headquarters about his findings at an occasion sponsored by the Governments of Panama and Antigua & Barbuda.

Attribution/Supply(s):

This peer reviewed publication was chosen for publishing by the editors of Disabled World resulting from its important relevance to the incapacity group. Initially authored by Nafeez Ahmed – System Shift Lab, and printed on 2024/12/16, the content material could have been edited for type, readability, or brevity. For additional particulars or clarifications, Nafeez Ahmed – System Shift Lab may be contacted at systemshift.earth. NOTE: Disabled World doesn’t present any warranties or endorsements associated to this text.

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Cite This Web page (APA): Nafeez Ahmed – System Shift Lab. (2024, December 16). Human Civilization at a Crossroads: Authoritarian Decline vs. Unprecedented Abundance. Disabled World. Retrieved December 17, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/incapacity/training/anthropology/critical-junction.php

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