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| https://news.fastcompany.com/brexit-meets-monty-python-on-the-new-yorkers-next-cover-4011855 |
The
U.K. Voted in a referendum to leave the EU by 52% to 48%. So really
very close, and in fact London and Scotland voted to remain.
Unfortunately, I think that the reasons to leave were driven more by fear than facts. Partly because it's actually a very complicated decision, the emotions became clearer than reasons.
Leaving itself need not be a terrible decision over the long term if it leads to a nimbler Britain and reform minded EU. The scarier scenarios right now are if this kicks off further populist nationalism, racism and bigotry across Europe and in the US behind Trump.
Unfortunately, I think that the reasons to leave were driven more by fear than facts. Partly because it's actually a very complicated decision, the emotions became clearer than reasons.
Leaving itself need not be a terrible decision over the long term if it leads to a nimbler Britain and reform minded EU. The scarier scenarios right now are if this kicks off further populist nationalism, racism and bigotry across Europe and in the US behind Trump.
For a glass half full of the globe today, take a read of The Fusion
of Civilizations, The Case for Global Optimism,"Instead of feeling depressed, the West should be celebrating its
phenomenal success at injecting the key elements of its worldview into other
great civilizations."
The article presents the positive side of the three challenges Kishore identifies as confronting us today:
"turbulence in the Islamic world, the rise of China, and intra-Western economic
and political sclerosis"
While the terror of Islamic state and Al Qaeda is very real, the Muslim world consists of 1.6 billion, the vast majority of them able to share global aspirations of raising living standards and peace. China will remain proudly different from the West, but again, will feature many overlapping aspirations...."in 2008, 36 million Chinese children were studying the piano, and another 50 million the violin"
As for the west, "the pessimism strikes us as dramatically ovedone, like previous bouts of declinism and worry that the West's best days are behind it." Kishore believes that the way ahead is for the West to be focused on three things: to work with China and India as the largest populations and economies of the future, "bolstering international rules and accentuating the positive trends that get lost in all the hysteria about the negative ones."
In this context, shocks like the UK vote and the rise of Trump can perhaps be the medicine needed to spur electorates and their politicians to take braver and wiser decisions. It remains uncertain that they will. The retreat by Clinton on the TPP may make sense for short term political gain, but is not being honest with those adversely impacted by it - it is the way the world is going with or without them. The Republican party needs to decide to lead, not simply oppose.
I have faith that this is indeed a wake up call. I certainly hope so because it will be our future generations that will live through the long term consequences.
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