Systems science for a better future

Democracy is a political system wherein power is vested in the hands of the people, either directly or through elected representatives. It is characterized by the principles of popular sovereignty, political equality, and majority rule.

Key Features

• In a democratic setup, leaders are elected through free and fair elections. These elected representatives are entrusted with the responsibility to govern on behalf of the people.
• Democracies operate under the rule of law, which ensures that laws apply equally to all citizens and are enforced impartially by independent judiciary institutions.
• Fundamental rights and liberties of individuals are safeguarded in democratic societies. These rights typically include freedom of speech, assembly, religion, and the press, as well as the right to a fair trial and protection against discrimination.
• Democratic governments often have a system of checks and balances, which divides powers among different branches (executive, legislative, and judicial) to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
• Democratic governments are accountable to the people they serve. Transparency in governance ensures that decision-making processes are open to public scrutiny, fostering trust and legitimacy.

Types of Democracy

• In a direct democracy, citizens participate directly in decision-making processes, often through mechanisms such as referendums, initiatives, and town hall meetings.
• Representative democracy, also known as indirect democracy, involves citizens electing representatives to make decisions on their behalf in legislative bodies such as parliaments or congresses.

Challenges and Criticisms

• Critics argue that majority rule in democracy may sometimes overlook the rights and interests of minority groups, leading to the potential tyranny of the majority.
• Concerns exist regarding voter apathy, low voter turnout, and the influence of money and media on electoral outcomes, which can undermine the democratic process.
• In some cases, wealth disparities and unequal access to political resources may result in the concentration of power among the wealthy elite, leading to an oligarchic form of governance rather than true democracy.

2. Pew Research Center's Survey

The Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan, non-profit organisation dedicated to conducting public opinion polling, demographic research, social science research, and media content analysis. It Established in 2004, the Pew Research Center is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. Their primary mission is to provide reliable, impartial data and analysis on critical societal issues and public policy matters. They strive to inform the public, policymakers, and the media with data-driven insights.

The Pew Research Center recently conducted a comprehensive survey shedding light on global attitudes towards governance, particularly the preference for authoritarian leaders versus democratic principles. The findings underscore a notable trend across regions, raising concerns among advocates of democracy.

Preferences in the Global South: In countries across the Global South, a significant percentage of respondents expressed a surprising preference for authoritarian leaders. The survey revealed striking figures:

• India (85%): A vast majority of participants favoured authoritarian rulers over democratic governance.
• Indonesia (77%): A substantial proportion of respondents showed a preference for authoritarian leadership.
• South Africa (66%): A notable majority expressed a preference for authoritarian leaders.
• Brazil (57%): A significant percentage of participants leaned towards authoritarian rulers rather than multi-party democracy.

Preferences in the West: Even in Western democracies, the survey uncovered substantial proportions favouring authoritarian rulers:

• United Kingdom (37%): A considerable number of respondents expressed a preference for authoritarian leadership.
• United States (32%): A significant minority favoured authoritarian rulers over democratic principles.

Implications and Concerns: The survey findings reveal a concerning trend towards the acceptance of authoritarianism on a global scale. Such inclinations may have profound implications for the future of democratic governance and civil liberties worldwide, prompting a critical examination of underlying factors contributing to this shift in preferences.

3. Challenges in Democratic Countries

• Erosion of Trust in Economic Policies: Citizens in democratic nations are losing faith in their governments' economic strategies. While average incomes may be on the rise, the gap between the wealthy elite and the rest of society is widening at an alarming rate. Large corporations and financial institutions wield significant influence, shaping policies to their advantage. This includes tax reductions, weakening of labour institutions, and exploitation of natural resources for profit.
• Environmental Crisis and Population Growth: The expansion of the global economy and human population has pushed humanity to the brink. Scientists warn that excessive reliance on fossil fuels to sustain modern lifestyles could render life on Earth unsustainable within this century. Additionally, the depletion of essential resources like water poses a significant threat. India, with 17.5% of the world's population but only 2.4% of its land, faces acute water scarcity, further exacerbated by rapid population growth.
• India's Environmental Performance: India's environmental performance has been a cause for concern. In 2014, the country ranked 155th out of 178 nations in the Global Environment Performance Index. However, by 2022, India had plummeted to the bottom of the list, ranking 180th out of 180 countries. As the world's most populous country, India grapples not only with environmental challenges but also with the imperative to accelerate income growth for its citizens. Despite the relentless pursuit of GDP targets, inequality is on the rise, while environmental degradation threatens the very foundation of the economy and human existence.

4. Advocating for a Holistic Approach in Science

• Fragmentation of Knowledge: In the pursuit of understanding how the world functions, various sciences social, medical, and natural have become fragmented into narrow disciplines. This specialization has led to scientists operating within isolated echo chambers, hindering cross-disciplinary learning and a holistic understanding of complex systems.
• Impact of Specialization: As sciences advance, experts gain in-depth knowledge within their specific fields but often lack a broader perspective. This focus on specialization results in a failure to comprehend the interconnectedness of diverse forces and human egos within complex systems, such as politics, economics, and the environment.
• Erosion of Holistic Understanding: The emergence of economics as a separate science in the early 20th century marked a departure from holistic philosophical inquiry. Modern economists, influenced by free market fundamentalism, prioritize market mechanisms over societal well-being. This ideological shift neglects the broader implications of economic policies on society and the environment.
• Devaluation of Systems Knowledge: Specialization has led to the devaluation of systems knowledge, as experts within specific domains focus solely on their areas of expertise. This compartmentalization prevents a comprehensive understanding of complex systems, resulting in high-tech solutions that may inadvertently harm overall health and well-being.
• Hubris of Modern Science: Modern science, rooted in the Enlightenment era, instilled a sense of hubris in human beings, leading them to believe they could conquer nature through technological advancements. However, this arrogant belief overlooks the intricate interplay of natural systems and threatens humanity's existence through misguided interventions.
• The Need for Holistic Approaches: In times of uncertainty, people gravitate towards authorities who claim to possess certainty and power, such as godmen, dictators, and wealthy technologists. However, relying solely on economists and scientists with a limited understanding of complex systems to guide social and economic policies jeopardizes the well-being of both society and the environment.
• Advocating for Systems Thinking: To address these challenges, there is a need for a higher-level science a science of holistic, self-adaptive systems that incorporates human egos. Such a holistic approach requires humility, systems thinking to identify patterns amidst details, and systems acting to implement adaptive solutions. By adopting a holistic perspective, societies can navigate complex challenges more effectively while preserving the well-being of both humanity and the environment.

In 2022-23, India's ratings in various global indices varied across different areas. 

• Global Environment Performance Index (EPI): In 2022, India ranked at the very bottom of the list, securing the 180th position out of 180 countries. This ranking indicated significant environmental challenges and the need for urgent action to address issues such as pollution, deforestation, and resource depletion.
• Global Democracy Index: India's ranking in the Global Democracy Index can vary from year to year based on factors such as electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, functioning of government, political participation, and political culture. The specific ranking for 2022-23 would depend on the evaluation criteria and data available.
• Global Corruption Perception Index (CPI): The Corruption Perception Index assesses perceived levels of public sector corruption worldwide. India's ranking in the CPI may have fluctuated in 2022-23 based on efforts to combat corruption, transparency in governance, and enforcement of anti-corruption laws.
• Global Human Development Index (HDI): The Human Development Index measures a country's average achievements in three basic aspects of human development: health (life expectancy at birth), education (mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling), and standard of living (gross national income per capita). India's ranking in the HDI might have experienced changes in 2022-23 due to advancements or setbacks in these areas.
• Global Competitiveness Index (GCI): The Global Competitiveness Index evaluates the competitiveness landscape of economies worldwide. India's ranking in the GCI could have been influenced by factors such as infrastructure, macroeconomic stability, health, primary education, higher education and training, goods market efficiency, labour market efficiency, financial market development, technological readiness, market size, business sophistication, and innovation.

6. The Role of Cooperation in Improving the World

• Organizations driven by cooperation rather than competition are essential for creating positive change in the world. While business corporations and armies focus on profit and power, families prioritize the well-being of their members through cooperation.
• Families, characterized by natural differences in sex and generational abilities, exemplify cooperation for mutual well-being. Despite women's significant contributions to family and societal well-being, their efforts are often undervalued in monetary terms and overlooked in economic metrics like GDP.
• Economists' assessment of women's participation in the labour force overlooks centuries of women's labour, which has been vital for producing social and economic value within families and communities. Women have traditionally played essential roles in family building and community cohesion.
• To foster a more caring society, there is a need to shift away from competitive dynamics and embrace cooperative approaches. Women, as natural family builders and facilitators of systems, offer valuable insights into nurturing relationships and fostering community well-being.
• Rather than expecting women to conform to traditional male-dominated hierarchies of competition, there should be a recognition of the caring qualities inherent in women. Men can benefit from learning and adopting these nurturing approaches to contribute to a more inclusive and compassionate world for all.