The geopolitics of emotions

15 juli 2009

Some books are great because they offer totally new insights. Others are amazing because they resonate with your own opinions. For me the latter was the case with “The geopolitics of emotions”, by Domique Moïsi. He brilliantly chronicles how the geopolitics of today is characterized by a “clash of emotions,” and how cultures of fear, humiliation, and hope are reshaping the world. Fear is the dominant emotion in The West, hope in Asia. And the Arab world is restrained by a culture of humiliation. His vivid description of these emotions in the various geographies is followed by two scenarios. One in which hope triumphs fear and one vice-versa. Moisi states that we all have to acknowledge that the current status-quo is not sustainable and that change is necessary for a better balanced world. A real understanding of “The Other” will be an essential foundation for a more tolerant world. Hope and trust are basically a mentality, one we need to avoid the doom of living in a world dominated by fear.
I really liked reading the book. I felt that it very much connects with how I described the economies of hope and fear, after visiting Asia early 2007. In a blog “Fear paralyses and hope inspires”, I concluded in Asia people are positive and know for a fact that their children will enjoy greater prosperity than their parents. And that feeling gives them wings –the “economy of hope”. The contrast with our own country could hardly be greater. Here an “economy of fear” appears to have taken hold. People are fraught with worry and concern: about jobs going to India or immigrant Poles, deteriorating pensions, uncertainties and the breakdown of society.”
I agree with Moisi that this paralysing atmosphere of fear must be dispelled. I’m convinced that this can’t be done by building walls around the country. Our world is full of opportunity. But we need innovative drive, courage and entrepreneurship to reignite our sense of hope and take control of our fate and future.



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