The Study of All Existence: Towards Global Symbiosis

Abstract

Disasters and human responses to them are part of what has made us who we are. An interacting global civilization has developed over thousands of years, but new disasters are looming, from war and the climate crisis to famine and flood. Our existence is precarious. This article argues that a new globalized perception is needed, one that involves consideration of localized traditions. Such a reconsideration can begin on an individual level, but it also engages other strata, geographies, and niches of society. An example of this process is described, one involving students from India and Japan. Beyond just theory, this proposition encourages applied studies. Its thesis is derived from an integrated view of anthropology and geography. This article is a sequel to ‘The Bedrock of Survival: Humanity, History and Adaptation,’ which appeared in the previous issue of the Journal of Globalization Studies.