World Problematique Research Articles

Forecasting in the Long-Term: Aurelio Peccei, a Quite Neglected Manager and Utopian

Aurelio Peccei (1908-1984) was an Italian top manager who worked in FIAT and Olivetti and founded in 1968 the Club of Rome (CoR), an informal group of politicians and intellectuals. They had the objective to clearly scrutiny into the af-termath of the economic growth which apparently paid no consideration for its negative side effects, especially the exhaustion of energy sources, and, in general, its sustainability: all that sums up in the phrase world problematique. The present paper deals with Aurelio Peccei and the main points of his futurology, in the light of the thought of Bertrand de Jouvenel, whom Peccei considered as his mentor. We will discuss how, according to Peccei's vision, only through a cultural revolu-tion a process of social changings eventually leading to sustainable equilibria could be set up in motion. Moreover, the issues under investigation were deemed com-mon to both capitalist and socialist countries so that the solutions would have to apply to both fronts of the Cold War. Indeed, in Peccei's approach, the reshaping of the international order would be a non-political process; maybe unknowingly, Peccei and the CoR doctrine seem to have a utopian, Saint-Simonian flavour.

Role of Climate Change in Exacerbating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence against Women: A New Challenge for International Law

The advent of climate change era has been affirmed by various global processes including 21 May 2019 recognition by the Anthropocene Working Group of ‘human impact’ in bringing profound alterations on planet earth. It has emerged as the predominant ‘world problematique’. Though entire populations are affected by climate change, women and girls suffer the most. Due to their traditional roles, women are heavily dependent on natural resources. As already seen, as a consequence of natural disasters and during Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-21, women have faced heightened real-life challenges specially being vulnerable to different forms of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). They suffer from a lack of protection, privacy, and mental trauma. Women are exposed to SGBV due to weak or absence of social, economic, political security and the culture of widespread impunity to the perpetrators. There is double victimization of women both as human beings and because of their gender. Effect of SGBV is highly injurious and perpetual. A close study of four main areas of international law does not yield any international legal instrument that deals with SGBV against women during and after the climate change induced disasters. This is more ominous when growing evidence suggests role of climate change in exacerbation of SGBV against women and girls. Even texts of the three specific climate change treaties (1992 UNFCCC, 1997 Kyoto Protocol and 2015 Paris Agreement) do not address this issue. It has been given attention only through the decisions of the Conference of the Parties in recent years. Due to serious psychological and bodily harm SGBV causes to women, it needs to be explicitly factored in respective international legal instruments on climate change and disasters. Amidst ignorance, denials and lack of adequate attention as regards impact of climate change in exacerbating SGBV against women and girls from the scholars and decision-makers in the field, this study makes a modest effort to deduce and analyze – from scattered initiatives, scholarly literature in different areas, existing international legal instruments and intergovernmental processes – the growing causal relationship between climate change and SGBV against women and girls so as to suggest a way out for our better common future. It is a new challenge for international law that needs to be duly addressed in a timely manner.

Our Earth Matters: Pathways to a Better Common Environmental Future – Part 1

[...]IOS Press's entrustment of the EPL editorship has led me to follow in the footsteps of Wolfgang's legendary energy, skills and encyclopedic knowledge. [...]it is humbling to don this new mantle. EPL's 50th anniversary remarkably precedes the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Stockholm Conference in 2022. [...]it sets us on the road to yet another defining moment for a futuristic gaze to make sense of the perennial predicament of mankind to devise effective responses for the world problematique (The Limits to Growth, 1972).

Augmenting the Collective Intelligence of the Ecosystem of Systems Communities: Introduction to the Design of the CI Enhancement Lab (CIEL)

The quality of collective intelligence flowing in and across systems communities of various disciplines, and the fragmentation or connectedness of their mental models of the world, shape their capacity to assist decision-makers and social movements in defining, mapping, and addressing the world problematique, by identifying policy options and anticipating their outcomes. In their current state of fragmentation, the systems sciences' epistemic communities cannot provide that assistance. Upgrading their collective intelligence is a vital imperative. This paper is suggest the prototyping of a Collective Intelligence Enhancement Lab and describes its core idea as a platform with an innovation architecture that integrates social, electronic, cognitive, and inner technologies and processes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Evolutionary learning for a post‐industrial society: Knowledge, creativity & social ecology

Abstract Evolutionary competence is an ideal conceptual model for overcoming the world problematique, one we move towards through the process of evolutionary learning. An emerging Systems Age worldview is articulated, based on four levels of analysis which are proposed as necessary but not sufficient for a description of a worldview. These levels of analysis inform four necessary but not sufficient dimensions for a curriculum for evolutionary learning in the Systems Age, which are discussed with references to their larger philosophical and spiritual significance. The need for systemic wisdom and a transformation on the part of the inquirer is emphasized, drawing on the work of Tarthang Tulku.

Evolution: The Grand Synthesis

The vision that lies behind this book is disturbing: we live in a period of major discontinuity in world history, a period marked by an explosion of world population, the loss of traditional values, social destabilization, unemployment, obsolescence of institutions and political systems, and the disappearance of traditional ideologies that in the past have given our behavior its bearings. The author, Ervin Laszlo, is a member of the Club of Rome, which, in recent years, has been a meeting place of intellectuals interested in the "world problematique." Laszlo's strategy for dealing with our dilemma is to understand the natural forces that direct physical processes, biology, and social behavior and, through that understanding, master our destiny. His intention is noble, the task itself may be another matter. This is where evolution enters the picture. In the author's view, an expanded evolutionary theory is the best theory available to organize and synthesize

Reason's shadow: Notes on the psychodynamics of obstruction

The remarks that follow are made with regard to the behavior of leaders whose self-image is threatened by a variety of conditions comprising the world problematique. Of all those conditions, surely those associated with violence and warfare are the most threatening. I would speculate, therefore, that what I've written here is especially pertinent for deliberations on how to encourage peace and disarmament. While these remarks are focused on the behavior of leaders—especially those in government—they can hold, too, for those in the public who identify with those leaders…itself another psychodynamic process. Of course, the public's contexts differ so the degree of threat and response will differ, too. This is a matter for further attention. Moreover, self-images are usually rich in content and while some aspects are threatened, others may not be or, indeed, may be attracted by new rational ideas. The resultant struggle within the psyche complicates the overt expression of these unconscious conflicts. But these dynamics mirror those comprising the problematique, especially its expression around issues of war and peace. Therefore, psychodynamic matters deserve as much attention and utilization as we now give to conventional, indeed, often ritual means, masquerading as rationality, for dealing with violence and armaments.

Global issues and human choices

Presented is a discussion of the World Problematique and some possible alternatives for solving some of the problems, including efforts by the United Nations and The Club of Rome.

The hidden future: A global view from another paradigm

The authors discuss the idea that sexual inequality may be a key to the world problematique. New findings from the social sciences, history, and prehistory are presented indicating a correlation be...

The future need for positive and constructive human characteristics

Past efforts at solving the “world problematique” have emphasized changing population, resources, energy, and so forth. More useful efforts should focus on better use of human resources and the application of constructive human qualities to bring about new and harmonious human/environment relationships. A radical re‐orientation in the study of human and societal dynamics is needed, one which would highlight constructive human characteristics, the most important of which are love and altruism. A global conspiracy of love may be the only hope for the survival of humankind.

Is there a future for social forecasting?

This paper examines the recent rise of, and interest in social forecasting. It reviews the various ways in which social forecasts are attempted: particularly through the techniques of modelling which have been taken from, and developed beyond the models used by the basic science and technologies. It then describes the shifts in thinking emerging from different beliefs and attitudes which seem to portend a new ideology in our global society. Finally the paper briefly addresses the crucial issue known as the ‘World Problematique’ and evaluates the role that social forecasting has to play in devising possible solutions, particularly from the viewpoint of industry, trade and commerce.

World Models, Resources, and Environment

World models are still in the early phases of development, and the majority of the ones built so far do not deal with the resources and environment sectors adequately. Of the models available, only the Leontief input-output model considers these two sectors in some detail. Even then the results should be taken as ordersof-magnitude guesses rather than as figures that can be used in an operational sense. Furthermore, the Leontief model suffers from a basic defect: it is a pollution abatement model. From the resources and environmental standpoint, it would be much more preferable to consider this as a sector within an overall management framework in which pollution control could play an important part.Modelling of world problematique is still in an early stage of development, and much work remains to be done to improve its basic structures, underlying assumptions, and data availability. Because of the difficulties—both conceptual and practical—many important areas are not considered in the resources and environment fields, or, if considered, are dealt with only superficially. An example is the consideration of the extent of recycling, conservation, and materials substitution, as prices of individual resources increase—owing either to economic market forces or man-made factors. While the general direction of the main thrusts are known, it is still difficult to define limits and determine interlinkages with any high degree of confidence. Much further work will be necessary to establish these interrelationships, the components of which will also need to have an adequate data-base.

Beyond the profit motive: The post-industrial corporation

Global approaches to solving the world problematique are augmented in this paper by a grassroots approach which may encourage the business corporation to evolve into an organic post-industrial form. This post-industrial model embodies two main concepts. One involves the development of social accounting frameworks that encourage the pursuit of social welfare rather than financial profit alone. Results are presented of a computer simulation of such a framework, called the “return on resources” model. The second concept suggests that systems of corporate governance be extended to form a corporate community composed of investors, employees, customers, the public and others involved in corporate affairs in order to facilitate collaborative policy making. These two complementary principles comprise a broader equivalent of free enterprise that provides more appropriate decision-making processes for post-industrial society. This post-industrial paradigm of corporate behavior is believed to be technically feasible, and trends suggest that its adoption is quite possible. The power of business corporations could thereby be transformed into a humanitarian force for achieving sustainable increases in human welfare.

Models of world food supply, demand and nutrition

Computer simulation of the world problematique offers a policy maker an interesting opportunity to see the dynamics of relationships within and between the global subsystems of which food and agriculture is one. The four major modelling studies reviewed in this article make assumptions about the possible level of food supply, technological and economic impacts on production, ecological consequences, and social and political factors influencing demand. Following their analysis of agricultural data inputs in all these areas, the authors discuss the type of policy measures likely to be recommended on the basis of global modelling.