MISSING ASPECTS

(Should 'missing aspects'  be discussed  in one dedicated section -- at what point in the report?  -- or rather in each of the sections of the framework?)

Among the interesting observations both of official reports of 'official' and 'unofficial organizations, as well as of this discussion, is the curious omission of certain aspects, and therefore, the lack of concrete, specific proposals for dealing with these issues. Therefore, this report can merely point out this fact, and attempt to raise some of the issues. The following is a list of such items, in no particular order, but starting with the observation that the orchestration of the global discourse itself is not (yet, other than in this STW discussion) a subject of a wider discussion:  the assumptions seems to be taken for granted that current (e.g. UN) provisions and media on the one hand, and the potential of the internet on the other, will be sufficient:

*  Organizing an effective framework for global Discourse: 

            a)  adequate platform, support software for global discourse;

            b)  development and application of a measure of merit of arguments

            c)  linking the measure (b)  with decision-making

*  Control of power:

            a) in general,  for government but especially on the global level

                        (the 'world government' controversy)

            b) in private enterprise and other organizations

            c) specifically, the role of power in the relationship between these organizations (b)

                        and governments.

*  Sanctions:  'coercive', 'enforced' by bigger power' versus automatically triggered by the attempt at violation. The many calls for adoption of agreements, rules, laws, regulations or even ethical attitudes and principles almost always lack specific suggestions about how to respond to violations of such rules. Even parties denouncing the 'excessive' coercive enforcement e.g. for the control of crime within societies and the use of military force internationally do not offer concrete alternatives either for preventing or responding  to such violations or attempts of 'settling' conflicts by force or threat of force.

*  Specific practical proposals (assumption of 'spreading the word' on the internet?)  for the strengthening of a new vision, ethic, sense of 'we', values, stewardship of the natural as well as social system.  Stories? Games? Imagery? Produced and distributed by what agencies, what media?

*  Alternative measures of success of policies, actions to replace exclusive use of indices such as Gross Domestic Product and its growth have been proposed and are being implemented by governments:  quality of life, citizen happiness or human development index.  But these measures are still quite crude (little more than elaborate opinion polls with scant specific linkage to actual actions or conditions) even for government use; and the introduction of such measures to private enterprise does not seem to have been not been explored.

*  Practical measures (steps) to replace the growth motive for private enterprise and government economical decisions.  One reason for this might be the lack of distinction between areas, sectors where resources are finite and continued growth physically impossible, and other areas where growth is still meaningful and needed (e.g. meeting nutrition, shelter, sanitary and health needs). Are political economy 'ideologies' of either camp applying their positions indiscriminately -- and thus destructively -- to all sectors over which they have political mandate?

*  The 'Free market' versus 'better regulation' controversy is still going strong and has not been carried through to viable resolution.  Specifically, the question of how the transition -- towards either end of the spectrum -- can be managed without detrimental side-effects, has been left out of the discussion. 

*  Implications of some proposed policies (e.g. 'family / small garden) on legal rules about land-ownership / property (Property laws?) need more detailed exploration and discussion. The proposals for small farms and family gardens are based on assumptions of property laws, the presence of water, transportation and markets within reach etc., that do not apply equally everywhere;  these differences may be the very reason for the decline of small farms.

*  The dilemma of Employment  /  Unemployment: is there a general assumption of  'jobs' as the main economic tool for income?  How does the 'right' to work and the campaign promises of politicians to create more jobs relate to the effect of industrialization and rationalization (doing more and better work with fewer workers) that ostensibly has reduced the need for human labor while increasing the education and training requirements for work, that the reduced work force  and unemployed cannot pay for?

*  The question whether Nation-states as the main constituents of global governance or forum organizations. Are territorial 'states', still the obvious and unquestioned only form of governance,  even in the face of the growth of global, non territorial forces and networks, able to meet the challenges? 

*The relationship and compatibility of religious beliefs regarding the imminence of the end of the world, even positing the obligation for the faithful to speed up the coming Armageddon, with the search for a sustainable future:  is the assumption of a discourse between the underlying beliefs an unrealistic one?  And if so, how should the question be dealt with?

---

Recommendation:

These ‘missing’ or inadequately explored issues should be taken up both in the general discourse, as research topics, and even as subjects of actual experiments within other projects or initiatives.

  Diagram:  Education / Information Component





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STW UN REPORT DRAFT 14  MISSING ASPECTS

(Should 'missing aspects'  be discussed  in one dedicated section -- at what point in the report?  -- or rather in each of the sections of the framework?)

Among the interesting observations both of official reports of 'official' and 'unofficial organizations, as well as of this discussion, is the curious omission of certain aspects, and therefore, the lack of concrete, specific proposals for dealing with these issues. Therefore, this report can merely point out this fact, and attempt to raise some of the issues. The following is a list of such items, in no particular order, but starting with the observation that the orchestration of the global discourse itself is not (yet, other than in this STW discussion) a subject of a wider discussion:  the assumptions seems to be taken for granted that current (e.g. UN) provisions and media on the one hand, and the potential of the internet on the other, will be sufficient:

*  Organizing an effective framework for global Discourse: 

            a)  adequate platform, support software for global discourse;

            b)  development and application of a measure of merit of arguments

            c)  linking the measure (b)  with decision-making

*  Control of power:

            a) in general,  for government but especially on the global level

                        (the 'world government' controversy)

            b) in private enterprise and other organizations

            c) specifically, the role of power in the relationship between these organizations (b)

                        and governments.

*  Sanctions:  'coercive', 'enforced' by bigger power' versus automatically triggered by the attempt at violation. The many calls for adoption of agreements, rules, laws, regulations or even ethical attitudes and principles almost always lack specific suggestions about how to respond to violations of such rules. Even parties denouncing the 'excessive' coercive enforcement e.g. for the control of crime within societies and the use of military force internationally do not offer concrete alternatives either for preventing or responding  to such violations or attempts of 'settling' conflicts by force or threat of force.

*  Specific practical proposals (assumption of 'spreading the word' on the internet?)  for the strengthening of a new vision, ethic, sense of 'we', values, stewardship of the natural as well as social system.  Stories? Games? Imagery? Produced and distributed by what agencies, what media?

*  Alternative measures of success of policies, actions to replace exclusive use of indices such as Gross Domestic Product and its growth have been proposed and are being implemented by governments:  quality of life, citizen happiness or human development index.  But these measures are still quite crude (little more than elaborate opinion polls with scant specific linkage to actual actions or conditions) even for government use; and the introduction of such measures to private enterprise does not seem to have been not been explored.

*  Practical measures (steps) to replace the growth motive for private enterprise and government economical decisions.  One reason for this might be the lack of distinction between areas, sectors where resources are finite and continued growth physically impossible, and other areas where growth is still meaningful and needed (e.g. meeting nutrition, shelter, sanitary and health needs). Are political economy 'ideologies' of either camp applying their positions indiscriminately -- and thus destructively -- to all sectors over which they have political mandate?

*  The 'Free market' versus 'better regulation' controversy is still going strong and has not been carried through to viable resolution.  Specifically, the question of how the transition -- towards either end of the spectrum -- can be managed without detrimental side-effects, has been left out of the discussion. 

*  Implications of some proposed policies (e.g. 'family / small garden) on legal rules about land-ownership / property (Property laws?) need more detailed exploration and discussion. The proposals for small farms and family gardens are based on assumptions of property laws, the presence of water, transportation and markets within reach etc., that do not apply equally everywhere;  these differences may be the very reason for the decline of small farms.

*  The dilemma of Employment  /  Unemployment: is there a general assumption of  'jobs' as the main economic tool for income?  How does the 'right' to work and the campaign promises of politicians to create more jobs relate to the effect of industrialization and rationalization (doing more and better work with fewer workers) that ostensibly has reduced the need for human labor while increasing the education and training requirements for work, that the reduced work force  and unemployed cannot pay for?

*  The question whether Nation-states as the main constituents of global governance or forum organizations. Are territorial 'states', still the obvious and unquestioned only form of governance,  even in the face of the growth of global, non territorial forces and networks, able to meet the challenges? 

*The relationship and compatibility of religious beliefs regarding the imminence of the end of the world, even positing the obligation for the faithful to speed up the coming Armageddon, with the search for a sustainable future:  is the assumption of a discourse between the underlying beliefs an unrealistic one?  And if so, how should the question be dealt with?

---

Recommendation:

These ‘missing’ or inadequately explored issues should be taken up both in the general discourse, as research topics, and even as subjects of actual experiments within other projects or initiatives.