People are asking that a lot lately, and unfortunately, the answer just seems to be, “It’s their fault.” The blame game gives politicians plenty to exploit as they hope to rile us all up to vote this way or that.
I see no sense in Republicans or Democrats claiming to know how to effectively govern in tumultuous times. This is a new historical moment. No one has the answers. None of us knows how to deal with global pandemics, artificial intelligence, and disinformation campaigns on the levels we are seeing today. No one.
Because we have not been here before.
We have, however, throughout the history of civilization, experienced tumultuous times. And we have not, historically, handled them well. It has been our human tendency to become ethnocentric to the detriment of entire peoples and continents. This we have seen again and again, and the rhetoric of politicians and political leaders around the world today is reminiscent of past turbulent times.
From the invention of the wheel to the internet, each technological innovation has caused significant social upheaval, reshaping how individuals interact with each other and their environment. We are again in an epoch of great technological advancements, and the only thing we know for sure is that it will change us forever.
It doesn’t make sense to blame people when it is the change in our status quo due to technology that has us in an uproar.
Ten thousand years ago, the Agricultural Revolution changed human society forever. Before the adoption of agriculture, humans were nomadic hunters and gatherers. As agriculture took root (pun!) humans shifted from a nomadic lifestyle to that of settled agricultural communities.
Surplus food production allowed populations to grow, which in turn led to the development of cities and organized societies, and social hierarchies.
As transportation technologies progressed, and competition for resources and power increased from two clans across the river from each other to two cultures across the ocean from each other, humans continued to expand their reach and compete for dominance.
The Industrial Revolution is another example of technological advancement that brought about significant social upheaval. The rise of factories created a new class of workers, characterized by long hours, low pay, and poor working conditions. This created significant unrest among the working class, leading to the rise of trade unions, and strikes. The growth of cities and the concentration of industry also led to significant environmental degradation, which further contributed to social upheaval. It could be argued that we are still dealing with the repercussions of this social change as we try to navigate the next one, already upon us.
The Information Age. The rise of the internet, mobile devices, and social media have created unprecedented connectivity and access to information. Social media has become the major platform for people to share their opinions and mobilize for social and political action. And this connectivity has brought about significant social upheaval.
The ease with which information can be shared and manipulated has led to the spread of conspiracy theories, misinformation, and hate speech. Social media algorithms create echo chambers, where individuals are fed information that only reinforces their preexisting beliefs. This has led to political polarization and the spread of misinformation in the public sphere.
So, in short, this is how we got here. Technological advancements have always been accompanied by significant social upheaval throughout history. Each technological innovation has restructured societies, reshaped the economy, and altered the way humans interact with each other. It is my hope that this perspective can work its way into conversations, so that we can stop “othering” and understand we are all in this together.
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