Politics – what hope for civil society? theme for November 20

AS I write the tortuous American election process is going on. The USA used to be a world leader . This is a gripping example of 2 different ways to run the political process. With Trump – dictatorial ruthlessness – heading to fascism, with Biden, restraint, respect for the rule of law, and a co-operative effort.

2020 has seen the continuing dictators, like Xi Jinping, Putin, Putin, Kim Jong Un, Bolsonaro, Bashar Al-Assad – , and also the drift to dictatorship in democratic countries, e.g India. As the world is faced with huge problems, many people seem to turn to uninformed, anti-science populist leaders – especially in English- language countries – USA, Britain, Australia.

So – the American election circus goes on: it is something of a test case for the world. To deal with global heating, nuclear dangers, and the pandemic, we need people of intelligence, respect for science, and the ability to co-operate.

Fortunately there are many thousands of people with all kinds of valuable skills , working on the global problems. Far too many great organisations to name here, and a lot of them under the wing of the United Nations.

The achievements can be seen, and continue to evolve, First and foremost , there’s the U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, It matters, whatever the bosses of the ‘nuclear nations’ say. There’s the global work towards the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference. But, however good the work of these agencies, it can succeed only with the participation and support of millions of people