A new shape for global relations: climate change for values
Mar Introini, PhD
Founder/Political Analyst thesustainabilityreader.com/Global Chair G100 Global Networking
The glass half empty or half full, is indeed the question to decide if values are suffering a global crisis, are brand new values -completely different- or instead, only transforming themselves into a new shape. The own natural values: personal, determined by the socio-cultural environment is a challenge in itself when exploring if they are just “dying” or changing towards a better -different- world. The idea that values are global is both a constraint and a hopeful way to envision the future. The more international we become, the more challenging it is to establish universal values equal for everyone. Paradoxically, the less strong values are the better fix into the “glass” of an inclusive global system.
Unifying values by erasing traditional or cultural elements, as well as creating new relationship patterns, -such as genetic modification or empathetic intelligence-, supposes a hurricane that unfailingly leads to a true “climate change” for values.
Both processes hold similar features:
High values are being replaced by new standards, sweeping away any moral framework, is precisely for the latest that an exercise of re-value our values is imperative.
Once society changes or better say is forced to change a new moral framework arises, and we feel forced to adopt a new range of priorities for our values. It is about subjectivity, a personal matter of alignment of values to the present moral framework, and then, developing your concept of ethical behavior.
Is it possible to address the very existence of global cultural values?. Or is it just about national values that join globally?. Is it clear that under the light from commercial and marketing level is an easy thought, as transnational companies are walking towards standardization of products. The negative aspect is that aims to cancel cultural values by reducing national sovereignty and replacing traditional values. However, this is not a global system, and certainly not their goal. Is about joining, and re-creating the system in a way that counterbalances power. Certainly is not by cancel individualities and traditions that we are going to achieve it, yet to learn and print within an enriched version coming from the diverse political scenarios.
Is about geopolitics in balance. A new soul, not a new body.
A new body goes against the goal for more integration it contributes to building more division and manipulation in terms of leadership. A manipulative message suggests that by a supranational authority, we were able to build peace, although is it clear from the current challenges is just the contrary: a threat to peace.
Under commercial goals, social values are the first to be changed to create new consumption habits that maximize profits. By delivering one- product-for-all instead of one product to each. As a consequence, consumers become less demanding and, therefore, change their values by losing themselves in a process out of their hands.
The philosophy coming from the Agenda 2030 is shared by many, but not so, on the way to be implemented, simply because global goals are not the same as global values. A very important contradiction that prevents to truly entering into a human-centered approach because there is not a values-based approach. Expecting to be globally accepted, is substantially different from being inserted into a global system within the cultural or religious diversity. How are SDGs expected to be achieved? By erasing cultural codes, and standardizing the goals.
Is precisely the latest, that exposed the need to change the strategy. They are good examples: SDG 5 Gender equality, and SDG 16 Peace, Justice, and Strong institutions, both goals are equal in the sense of belonging to the local society. The lack of respect for these values put on top of the global goal, instead of adapting to each local reality, is one of the elements that make the process very challenging.
In the case of Gender equality, contemplating individual freedom, personal choices, and particular needs represents a positive discrimination that respects cultural, and religious values as well. Is precisely the absence of respect the one that prevents to achieve of the goal faster, and more effectively. In the end, is not about equality but equity.
Values are personal, however, it needs also to be placed in a cultural context, only then, may there be reasonable expectations that will be achieved.
The slow-down in the SDGs development comes when there is no local perception of their implementation as it enters in contradiction with religions, personal habits, culture, and traditions.
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We may share the same goals or even principles, but we cannot make sure that values are implemented in the same way, as a result, each society adapts the goal to its traditions. Is it then that the contradiction arises because values are not a tool but the very essence?
If bringing personal values to the public stage is challenging, is even harder to transform public values, into global values.
Values are on fire for the long term because the change in global relations patterns is only possible through a societal conviction, and tailored-made adaptation to each local reality. Is it indeed a catastrophe, equal to climate change, because SDGs do not contemplate differences, yet standards? The latest established without a global accountability system The same as we need to preserve the environment and nature, we need to build an environment respectful of culture, and traditions, for whom equity is much better than equality. The idea that ethics are only driven by a centered power that decides like an ad hoc tribunal is not what will guarantee justice, not even well-being.
Rebuilding, reshaping, re-write ethics, and adapting to new habits at the global level within a global moral framework, is not possible if there is not an accountability system coming from the local parties, not the other way round.
Is time to greening values from a moral contamination framework
That is precisely the glue to keep values alive, and stronger than ever. The utopian idea, coming from SDGs of a supranational altruist structure, unfortunately, is not translated into outcomes.
Is it about creating one solution for each, and not one solution for all.
Global or International relations ?
That is indeed the question when we face the growth and fall of the globalization model. Expecting to be global is substantially different from being within a global system, effective and reliable. Contradictions that cannot be fixed easily, and raise the wrong expectations. The main one is the idea of transforming national sovereignty into a centralized power. The juxtaposition of different Nations into one is not a global concept. In the end, is more a matter of changing ideologies into moderate positions than losing national authority. Currently, ideologies are reduced to political positions, instead of a truly set of beliefs and ideas for each crisis: financial, pandemics, migration, etc.
Democracy at the national level is a clear spectrum, determined and easy to conceptualize, not so at a global system that is about global institutions with no binding capacity in their decision-making processes. Almost impossible to get a consensus without centralizing the power. Is so, that institutions like the United Nations get into a state of “decaffeinated politics” with very low impact.
When values meet institutions and there is not a system that adapts to each, is a catastrophe, as the value becomes a standard, and the moral framework, a group of Media, Social Media, and political propaganda, although with a great impact. Is it so that the climate on values, changes radically without the contentment from their actors, and coming from a political agenda?
Is time to revert and make values a sustainable resource as well as a goal. Updated traditional values, an accountable global system, and strict control for ethical behavior, not only will preserve integrity in the long term, but also, will make strategic alliances, and innovative partnerships a true driver for sustainable change.
Let's raise the environmental temperature towards sustainable peace by conciliation, negotiation, Diplomacy …just traditional values in an inclusive and amelioration action that leads to re-value the past values.