The Battle for Hope
An interesting article by Dominique Moisi, a Visiting Professor at Harvard University, observing the contrasting level of collective hope/ individual fear between America and Europe.
Collective hope is tied to the country's leadership, in how effective it rallies its people forward in times of difficulty, whilst the level of Individual fear reflects the country's system, the safety nets in place, and the assurance (perceived or real) given to its citizen when some (or all) the country's system fail. One good measurement of whether the country has provided adequate safety net is this: do majority of its citizens experience little, moderate, or tremendous fear when one loses his/her health or job? It is not easy to achieve the perfect act: on the one hand inculcating in its people the importance of work and self-sufficiency, on the other hand assuring them that they will be cared for if and when misfortune were to befall upon them. Yet Governments are not infallible. Finding support from its peope through working closely with self-help groups such as societies, charitable organisations, and private groups will help alleviate the stress placed on governments, and provide a secondary defence mechanism so essential for the country's well-being.
Collective hope is tied to the country's leadership, in how effective it rallies its people forward in times of difficulty, whilst the level of Individual fear reflects the country's system, the safety nets in place, and the assurance (perceived or real) given to its citizen when some (or all) the country's system fail. One good measurement of whether the country has provided adequate safety net is this: do majority of its citizens experience little, moderate, or tremendous fear when one loses his/her health or job? It is not easy to achieve the perfect act: on the one hand inculcating in its people the importance of work and self-sufficiency, on the other hand assuring them that they will be cared for if and when misfortune were to befall upon them. Yet Governments are not infallible. Finding support from its peope through working closely with self-help groups such as societies, charitable organisations, and private groups will help alleviate the stress placed on governments, and provide a secondary defence mechanism so essential for the country's well-being.