Together the switches define a practical strategy for global security; for a serious attempt at revival of co-operation, ecosystems and prosperity.
Seven Policy Switches for Global Security
Published as ‘advanced research’ by the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme.
Abstract
Everyone desires a secure life. Yet the security of more and more regions is undermined by unreliable and unequal availability of basics such as energy, water, food, natural resources, funds, co-operation, trust and hope for the future. Shocks such as the credit crunch, infectious diseases, climate instability and ecological collapses are converging towards a ‘planet crunch’ where security would become a fond memory. Traditional policy-making, that manages problems separately and incrementally, offers only the illusion of protection against impending unaffordable and irreversible shocks affecting all people. Future security anywhere requires all facets of security everywhere. This ‘global security’ ambition can be sought with a new era of policy-making that encompasses the indivisibility, scale and urgency of all planet crunch issues. This paper offers a selection of seven simple ‘policy switches’ (or ‘leverage points’ in complex systems). Each policy switch offers an expanded vision of people’s role on Earth and a whole-system change to implement it. Together the switches define a practical strategy for global security, for a serious attempt at revival of co-operation, ecosystems and prosperity.
Main content of the paper
- Introduction: Security Means Global Security (redefining security as a framework for multiple global problems).
- First Policy Switch: From a Strategy of Reducing Problems to Reversing Them (economic growth strategy, positive development, net positive value).
- Second Policy Switch: From Predetermined to Curiosity-Led Learning (herd thinking, creativity, engagement).
- Third Policy Switch: From Consuming to Building the Basis for Economic Growth (circular economy, precycling as waste strategy, ‘precycling insurance’).
- Fourth Policy Switch: Reversing an Unintended Incentive for Conflict. (weapons spending, security strategy, GDP accounting).
- Fifth Policy Switch: Including Guardianship within Ownership of the Earth (biodiversity, resources, commons, commodification, future generations).
- Sixth Policy Switch: Recruiting the Mega-Rich to Inspire a Mega-transformation (recycling surplus wealth to problem stockpiles, philanthropic transformation).
- Seventh Policy Switch: Local and Central Creation of Money (financial stability, austerity, debt, monetary reform, local currencies).
Conclusion
The flood of problems, locally, regionally and globally, already exceeds the capacity of researchers, policy-makers and the wider society to cope. The strategy of handling problems one at a time, a bit at a time, has not worked and cannot work. The solutions are not to be found where they are being sought, within the narrow territory of each symptom. Time is short but a new strategy is available: it is the ‘system’ that must be fixed, not all the separate symptoms. The boundaries of what is realistic need not be set by the struggles of the past nor current economic conditions. What is possible must match what is necessary. Habits of thought, world-views and economic rules-of-the-game can be switched from accelerating the planet crunch to reversing it. The goal of global security, implemented by the proposed policy switches, offers the possibility of future stability, security and prosperity. These switches redirect attention from the daunting list of changes that would be seen if things were working, to the manageable list of changes to make things work. This is not academic nor complicated and if acted upon people would soon wonder why it wasn’t done long ago.
Presented at NATO Advanced Research Workshop. Split, Croatia 17th-19th June 2009. Published for the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme by Springer, Sept 2010. Publisher’s link (paywall), slides, author’s copy of published full paper, event pdf, TEDx talk, Planet Levers project.
This blog piece has the abstract and conclusion of the paper. The problem-solving framework of global security and each of the seven policy switches is in further blog pieces, please see the content list above. Comments, suggestions and new collaborators are very welcome.
BlindSpot Think Tank leads a project to advance the policy switches internationally, Planet Levers Lab.
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TEDx by @blindspotting offers 7 policy switches to reverse global problems. Open your mind, free up 14 min, + go to https://t.co/zcM8Yr4TkH
@Ecocity2017 How can the rhetoric of sustainability be turned into practice? #TEDx & @nato-published paper:… https://t.co/pjnmkCpgHt
https://t.co/jYDLti5awz
Huge respect for the great work you do around the world. Check out https://t.co/m4p3YTZGrn #systemchange #policyswitches #globalsecurity
Seven Policy Switches for Global Security – revival of co-operation, ecosystems and prosperity ~ @blindspotting… https://t.co/YNwDNVx9AP
7 new policies pretty much cover it @EPinUK @gmchamber @MFOxford #MyMEP https://t.co/GHH1h9rzPB from @blindspotting https://t.co/s1E5tgikNV
BlindSpot Think Tank – Seven Policy Switches for Global Security https://t.co/QMDcr6urPG thanks @revkin
#ClimateRescue needs politicians who can do multiple #policyswitches for #globalsecurity. #nomorewars https://t.co/j7J8P1Enft @stevefrehn
Seven Policy Switches for Global Security https://t.co/0nwgDqXSRu
Peace & security need a bigger view + bigger reforms. https://t.co/j7J8P1Enft @DanielPAldrich @YaleClimateComm @TheCVF @UNUWIDER
Powerful #Systems Messaging~ @blindspotting https://t.co/TqI9Hu1GvP … https://t.co/reaQHL4R6r … #climate https://t.co/lfdxsdM6Mk
Important Powerful #Systems Messaging from James Greyson @blindspotting https://t.co/TqI9Hu1GvP https://t.co/reaQHL4R6r #climate
see 7 policy switches for global security – https://t.co/BNWytYSXKK @blindspotting @Climate_Rescue #circulareconomy https://t.co/kaRuyY7zbj
The policy switches https://t.co/kg0huHddGm #sustainability #security #philanthropy
“Seven Policy Switches for (Climate) Global Security” | TEDx Bradford/UK by James Greyson
https://t.co/iSpvlQtYVq
https://t.co/sffOjEN8EK
Seven #Policy Switches for Global #Security https://t.co/5A61osWCOe via @blindspotting
For weapons + climate we’d look at #3 and #4, though all are needed for each global issue. https://t.co/lbXYQ1C4Mw @kevsclimatecol
@ClimateGroup @GrimaldiPrince Shermitah for planet: https://t.co/HuTRBuNIoe & 7 ‘policy switches’ via @blindspotting https://t.co/GHH1h9rzPB
Circular economy makes a lot of sense.
Curiosity-based learning is imperative for the future of our youth.
7 new ways of achieving a very low conflict/waste society – http://t.co/P6R5zzyGB1 @blindspotting
Is it trash or fix #capitalism? http://t.co/RqgLqZ466G @blindspotting @climatehawk1 @truthout
A TEDx talk @cathyhc @impactbanker & Seven Policy Switches for Global Security 🙂 @circulareconomy via @blindspotting http://t.co/GHH1h9rzPB
@alfonslopeztena ~>
“Is the game to replace nature with people till planet bursts & is flattened?http://t.co/7W3Rohitba … ” – @blindspotting
@blindspotting Seven Policy Switches for Global Security. Let’s make them happen. http://t.co/StxUZmUOKt #circulareconomy #sustainability
Key point for roadmaps is spotting the crossroads for drastic change? http://t.co/0wV4w5uUFm @buckymclachlan @Revkin
@AnarchoZionist @MonaHol I would recommend all consider this piece from @blindspotting on necessary policy switches http://t.co/X5BcHlj9JO
@permagriculture Seven #Policy Switches for #Global #Security
http://t.co/4GePEYiSXu @coolmyplanet @InspiratorsList @beepea @Bioregional
Are @greenparty @DarrenHall2015 engaging with #CircularEconomy idea’s? Some good thinking here: http://t.co/CYFkXq9IVG #greensurge
MT @blindspotting: Culture of guardianship is #5 in a set of 7 #planetlevers for #sustainability & #climaterescue http://t.co/PLsvsYRFis
Seven Policy Switches for Global Security http://t.co/PlOjt97Ztg via @blindspotting Fixing Systems Not Symptoms
War & #climatechaos tell us to change paradigms. Especially #3 & #4! http://t.co/0wV4w5uUFm #planetlevers @earthmatters2me @StollmeyerEU
How about 7 solutions for the whole system? http://t.co/LJHXg3zbAs @veerle_ronsse @MyBlueEconomy #planetlevers
Behind the dark night of the soul @LynnTilton http://t.co/YrqLC3hzxf @Climate_Rescue
Worsening unsustainability is not news; this was the message at the start of international environmentalism over… http://t.co/DXqso7LR2I
Loss of nature & war drive each other. #PlanetLevers 5 & 4. http://t.co/LJHXg3zbAs @veerle_ronsse @GAPMarilyn @Willcoxrm @WorthWild_LLC
Bucky Fuller would like @blindspotting’s policies to self-organise peace with people and nature: http://t.co/nKuqpJfhV3
BlindSpot Think Tank – Seven Policy Switches for Global Security http://t.co/sB9YLuS4tY
Food for thought: Seven Policy Switches for Global Security http://t.co/inZXSLvJLX
The real alternative. Seven Policy Switches for Global Security: http://t.co/inZXSLvJLX #bravenewworld
Seven Policy Switches for Global Security – whole system change http://t.co/GdB1wGNxUX #sustainable development
Great ideas for anyone who understands the problems and questions solutions
http://t.co/2DenHlTST0
Via @blindspotting
Seven Policy Switches for Global Security http://t.co/ahP1VuOjwJ practical strategy, revival of co-operation, ecosystems and prosperity
The UN could lead on #climatechange, #nukeweapons etc. http://t.co/LJHXg3zbAs @kevsclimatecol @summerbrennan @CFigueres #systemchange
Great article and a great pity that it cannot be fully adopted now. But with a mere 2,000 corporates according to Forbes controlling 51% of the total global economic turnover last year, with the present world mind-set it will be extremely hard to change the status quo. It is the vast economic and financial power of global corporates that is destroying this planet and all in the name of ‘Greed’ and the benefit of the very few.
Dr David Hill
World Innovation Foundation
Thanks David! We read every day that business see that we are destroying the planet. This suggests 2 routes for fully adopting the policy switches now; via business or civil society movements. Yes there is greed; isn’t this a reason to implement solutions to also deal with greed (eg policy switch 6) not a reason to give up?
Amazon destruction is symptom of #planetlever 3&5 default mode. Can change! http://t.co/LJHXg3zbAs @thenatefactory @AJEnglish @AmazonWatch
Seven policy switches http://t.co/88KJCd4lOr @blindspotting #globalsecurity #water #green #susty #climate
Policy solutions for both #climaterescue and #ecorevival = all #policyswitch shifts! http://t.co/LJHXg3zbAs @Francis_NL
Sixth switch may prove the hardest, the mega-rich are often also mega-selfcentered 🙁
@ClimateGroup @MIGAWorldBank I disagree. Titanic Earth must perform 180* turn now. i. e. : http://t.co/Mu60LKiLAA
@EarthActivists @IrinaGreenVoice Apps are jokes for global security. We need http://t.co/Mu60LKiLAA