The world is now facing a crisis, but to escape it, we must undergo a shift in consciousness—or, to put it another way, break free from brainwashing. To begin with, let us look at the nations that have escaped colonial rule and dictatorship over the past century. Essential to their success were the presence of many citizens demanding democratization and leaders to guide them, along with support from the international community. With the will, bloodshed could have been avoided. To reclaim a society for the people, a strong reform consciousness, an understanding of the core issues, and appropriate reform goals were crucial. Achievement never comes solely from the momentum of populism. That said, overturning a society dominated by conservatives and the wealthy (a plutocracy) is an extremely difficult task. Elections are swayed by financial power, parliaments and media are controlled, people are further manipulated by social media, and those struggling in poverty lose the will to rise up.
One barrier is selecting our reform goals, but the Nordic countries offer a model. For nearly 70 years, the Nordic welfare states have succeeded. Their economic prosperity and happiness consistently rank within the top 10 globally. They also combine outstanding international competitiveness with sound public finances. Moreover, they embrace capitalism, participate in the global economy, and accept over 10% immigrants.
Unfortunately, before Japan, the US, and the UK can adopt the Nordic approach, they must first restore democracy. This is because the political stances of these nations, and crucially, the underlying public consciousness supporting them, differ too greatly. The essence of Nordic politics lies in businesses and workers collaborating to achieve economic growth and prosperity, while ensuring happiness and peace of mind through comprehensive public services. In fact, this political stance was pioneered in Britain and the US from the late 19th to the early 20th century. Unfortunately, Japan missed this opportunity because it was a militaristic state.
The second barrier is skepticism toward democracy and globalization. Right-wing populism tends to drift toward military dictatorship. Furthermore, the IT entrepreneurs surrounding Trump demand extreme libertarianism. Both of these trends will worsen conditions for workers and increase the risk of war. The conclusion is that liberal democracy and globalization accompanied by appropriate regulation remain essential. Japan and the US have already deviated from democracy. A stark example is that while the real wages of the majority of citizens have stagnated for decades, a super-wealthy class continues to emerge, and gender discrimination remains deeply entrenched.
Unrestrained globalization has caused various problems. However, we simply need to correct the mistakes in how it was done. Take the hollowing out of domestic industries as an example. Naturally, advanced nations should continuously create new, high-value-added industries, while older industries gradually disappear from within the country. To respond to this, workers must acquire skills to endure job changes, and policies supporting career transitions are essential. Instead, governments have taken the easy way out: directing new investment overseas rather than domestically, pursuing a weak yen, and pledging to protect old industries and workers for popularity, thereby causing national decline. Nordic countries are doing the opposite. On the other hand, globalization itself has enriched many developing nations, raised public health standards, and delivered abundant goods to developed countries. Moving forward, protecting the Earth's limited resources and environment while curbing conflicts demands greater international cooperation. For this reason too, globalization is inevitable.
Human progress has been a continuous series of reforms. We see an example of this in the history of gender equality. The origins of this issue began around 8 million years ago when the ancestors of chimpanzees diverged from humans. Females had to dedicate themselves to long-term childcare, from fetuses with massive brains to infants. This necessitated strong pair bonds with males. This fact drove the evolution of sexual differences between females and males. Later, as human societies began to grow larger, roles diverged: women focused on childcare within the household, while men managed social organizations. This dynamic became recorded in myths and sacred texts, influencing subsequent societies. Eventually, technological progress enabled women's entry into society. Coupled with rising awareness of rights, women demanded the acquisition of rights, leading to the present day. The path to equal rights is long, but it is possible.
Predicting the future is difficult. Economic texts written in the 1970s to 1990s failed to foresee the current economic disparities, divisions, and industrial hollowing out. It wasn't until the 2000s that voices began pointing out the impending demise of the neoliberalism that started in the 1980s. While few Japanese, save for a handful, could read the economic undercurrents and consider the workers' perspective, some Americans sounded crucial warnings and accurately predicted the present.
Finally, let's examine Acemoglu's book, “The 1000-Year History of Technological Innovation and Inequality.” The author argues that if ongoing technological innovation is left unchecked, it will actually worsen society as a whole. He cites the British Industrial Revolution and the dawn of the automobile in early 20th-century America as bad examples, and Roosevelt's New Deal policies as a good example of a solution. Furthermore, he asserts that under the current neoliberal economic system, deterioration is inevitable.
We, the people, must begin by reclaiming our democracy.
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