The social dimension of human existence has continued to evolve. This advancement is evident in how education, business, media, and society have continuously been redefined and understood. For example, the advent of social media has narrowed the space and time for disseminating information among humans. Also, social media has enabled a ubiquitous flow of information unhindered and unchecked.
Human civilization has consistently gone through regeneration by advancing ideation and innovation in socio-cultural, environmental, business and political activities. And that is why the human person remains the focal being of societal evolution. These activities are enhanced by human partnerships; human collaboration with plants and other beings continue to define societal existence.
Creationism in Christian theology and Darwin’s theory of evolution hold that human beings are supposed to be more intelligent and rational in comparison to other living things. But history is replete with examples of people—Adolph Hitler, Jim Jones, David Koresh—who were narcissistic and became averse to debates they consider offensive. Such narcissistic behaviour, helps create a domineering perspective of illusionary reality and knowledge, which fuels extremism in all facet of society, a common trait in Hitler, Jones and Koresh.
Belonging to different schools of thoughts or holding divergent ideologies or opinions on issues should be a norm. When we allow reason to dominate or control our discourse, the society is better for it. We can’t all subscribe to the same ideology. Ideological divergence must be seen as a norm and right that must be protected. For the purpose of human existence, our divergence should be used to achieve the commonality of a better society.
Are we been lead apart by our different social identities? Is extremism fueled by the in-group and out-group dominion?
The persistent Middle East crisis, the Bosnia war, the China-Taiwan supremacy contest, Brexit, the 2016 US election, the Syria crisis, the Yemen crisis, the Rohingya massacre and Xenophobia in South Africa are products of extreme account. In Nigeria extremism has led to the Southern Kaduna crisis, the Shia massacre, the IPOB killings, the Niger Delta crisis and the herdsmen rampage. These issues are driven by the absence of reasonable debates and the determination to uphold identity supremacy.
These issues were treated with levity at the micro level, where they first manifested. Proper attention would have made the negative impacts of narcissistic tendencies much easier to address.
Societies adopt this kid-glove approach to nascent conflict—examples mentioned earlier—because of a domineering ‘us’ versus ‘them’ mentality. Once it appears that is minorities who are going to be the victims, rhetoric that can cause harm are allowed to foster. The consequences of this approach have been devastating.
One glaring shortcoming of contemporary society is the assumption that economic prosperity will solve socio-psychological, socio-cultural, socio-ideological and socio-identity problems.
The dominant paradigm would argue that these social problems persist because of growing economic inequality and financial poverty. This paradigm is defined in the narrative, policies and programmes of UN, World Bank, IMF and developmental organizations. Here inequality and poverty is seen majorly from an economic perspective.
I believe economic prosperity will not solve the problems created by psychological, cultural, ideological, or identity related factors. These factors give rise to narcissism, egomania, race superiority which could negatively affect sustainable development. For example, Nazi Germany was prosperous and advanced in technology, but this did not stop it from developing an absurd ideology.
More often than not, we equate the rise of extremism in developing nations like Nigeria to economic poverty and inequality. We fail to critically examine how the human mind is prone to manipulation when it is weak or poor ideologically, culturally and psychologically. Weak and poor minds fuel extremism. The preponderance of ideological poverty and inequality is detrimental to developing a just and equitable society. This is because economic prosperity does not necessarily guarantee a better understanding of our socio-psychology, socio-cultural, socio-ideological and socio-identity issues.
Creating economic wealth for all is important. It is also important that we build a tolerant society that can accommodate all, no matter the ideological divergence. Doing this will help foster the depth of mind for an inclusive society.
One way to build such a society will be to do away with identity classifications, especially the kind of classifications which demean people. Identity classification is driving the current wave of populism and nationalism. And the world requires radical solutions to address this new wave of populism and nationalism being experienced across the globe.
The world is culturally and racially as divided as ever, if not even more. The advancement in technology and communication which are key gains of globalization has also been used to promote the spread of hate and vitriol rhetoric.
To achieve the full complement of globalization, cultural and racial integration is important. This will help to eradicate the identity barrier for a truly equal society. We cannot be talking about deep rooted social vulnerabilities without thinking if such vulnerabilities can endanger sustainable development.
Activities that advance society would always be perceived in a bad light, if equality is threatened. It has never been more important that we build the connecting bridge that links our commonality.
Godson Ikiebey
Godson Ikiebey is of the FirstBank Sustainability Centre, Lagos Business School
