Reflections on Global Change: Why Modern Elites Fail and Systems Must Be Restructured

The Paradox of Progressive Thought

Recently, a notable tendency has emerged among progressive American intellectuals. These intellectuals have sought to “challenge” the prevailing paradigms by remaining within the confines of established patterns of thought, thereby perpetuating the established system. However, it is hypothesized that such endeavors have precipitated an intellectual “skidding” within their own “ethos“. This is due to the fact that the manner in which these intellectuals approach the profound structural roots of the problems and the complex consequences that can be argued to arise from them remains exceedingly “superficial”, thereby engendering a certain “paradox”. The present author’s position is that the primary cause of the present crisis of the Democratic Party is the paradoxical situation created by the confinement of American political thought to a particular interpretation of liberalism. It is more precise to state that the intellectual circles centered around the Democratic wing of the party system have, by limiting their analyses – which form the basis of their politics – to globalisation and related identity politics, failed to establish a concrete link with their primary base, the electorate, whose votes they are attempting to secure in order to gain power. A substantial number of opinion polls have demonstrated that the predominant sentiment among the American electorate is one of indifference towards the complexities of international relations and geopolitics. The subjects’ concerns are centered primarily on so-called “domestic issues”, which are defined as issues that directly impact the subjects’ livelihoods, families, and respective states.

The Call for Visionary Leadership

Historical analyses reveal the emergence of signs of a systemic crisis in the global system, which began to intensify in the early 2000s. An urgent necessity for a systemic re-crisis requiring a restructuring from the centre to the periphery has begun to develop. However, it is imperative to recognize that such comprehensive transformations cannot be initiated by remaining entirely within the existing system. Such a transformation requires a comprehensive and systematic approach involving different ways of thinking. My assumption is that only individuals or groups with “mediocre” intellectual capacities are interested in positioning themselves to compete to be involved in the process of thinking within the system to formulate interim solutions. In contrast, visionary leaders must have the capacity to anticipate the needs of 50, 100 or even 200 years ahead. One of the most notable examples of such visionary leaders is Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey. Similarly, although no longer with us, the architects of the French Revolution exemplified this quality. They can distinguish themselves among their peers through their idealism, strength of character and intelligence. Their ability to utilise a wide range of knowledge is also remarkable.

Barriers to True Elite Emergence

According to the author of these lines, the main problem that should be identified as the main obstacle to the effective functioning and renewal of the system in today’s societies is related to the immediate exclusion and isolation of visionary and qualified individuals with the capacity to think and conceptualise beyond the limits of the dominant paradigms. This “exclusionary dynamic” is effectively perpetuated by the promotion of a culture of self-interest over collective interests. In order to counteract this dominant tendency, it is imperative to provide individuals with a minimum level of autonomy sufficient to encourage them to think freely and to ensure the protection of future visionaries. Without this approach, it is considered difficult to prevent political systems from becoming bogged down. Moreover, when we look at the historical process, it would not be wrong to argue that, with the exception of a few marginalized serious minds (of which Rousseau is perhaps one of the most brilliant examples), authentic elites have been created through these processes. The potential claim that one’s familial background, especially the wealth of one’s family, the opportunities one has enjoyed, whether professional or not, or one’s nobility, automatically marks one out as a distinguished individual or a visionary leader is clearly false. If such an assertion were to be made, one would inevitably have to question the causes of the “French Revolution“. The possible conservative position that would claim that the individual has the opportunities for advancement in today’s world to develop his or her creativity in a healthy way, despite its simplicity, would find it very difficult to answer the two simple questions of why the global system needs to be restructured today and why the French Revolution was made, which is the second historical question that can be derived from this. The inability to answer such simple questions serves as a reliable indicator of limited intellectual capacity, which in turn provides evidence for the claim made at the beginning of this paragraph. The sheltered environment created by capital accumulation creates inequality in the system and prevents talented individuals from rising as they should. To put it concretely, a person’s family may have consistently provided him/her with protection and support while systematically eliminating his/her opponents. This may have led to an erroneous self-perception that misjudged one’s intellectual abilities and equated oneself with, for example, Einstein or Robespierre. The generalization of this situation may have spread like a kind of cancer in the intellectual milieu, leading to the emergence of a narrow and unqualified elite with a narrow vision, which does not go beyond confirming each other’s inadequacies. However, when confronted with the limitations imposed by material reality, the illusions of such individuals and circles are inevitably dispelled, and the true dimensions of intellectual capacity are revealed.

The Imperative of Global Restructuring

In today’s world, a comprehensive restructuring of the globe has become more than a necessity; it has become a necessity. Individuals of average intelligence are expected to be able to recognize this. Even if the full imperatives imposed by this restructuring have not yet been fully realized, it is reasonable to assume that the full picture will inevitably come to light as circumstances develop. Psychological explanations, determinations based on technological determinism, or contemporary nihilistic variants of conformist and resigned perspectives are clearly inadequate to address the multidimensionality and urgency of the problem. If this tendency is pushed, contemporary problems will remain entirely unresolved. The current global system is currently in a state of confusion and gridlock and is therefore doomed to undergo a comprehensive transformation, from political regimes to ideological superstructures and accumulation regimes. It must be emphasized again that this transformation is inevitable. The point that should be emphasized, perhaps as the “insurance” of this change for the future, is the establishment of an appropriate mechanism for the training of elites that utilises the collective power of the society in a way to bypass economic and social inequalities. Therefore, political systems with corrupt and weakened promotion mechanisms should be reviewed, and existing institutions should be restructured. A comprehensive examination of the social support mechanisms that have lost their functioning should be carried out, the points that cause weakness should be carefully identified, and concrete solutions should be proposed. The “parasitic” elements of the system and possible systems that prevent the just and free development of humanity must be eliminated. This perspective must be utilized for the effective functioning of the political order. Current approaches, based more on day-to-day and short-term reforms, have historically proven to be completely ineffective after a certain stage, and it is imperative to recognize that the status quo is untenable. It is hoped that all stakeholders will clearly recognize this reality.

A Glimpse into the Future

If the reconstruction is realized through a US-Russia alliance, it may remind us of the perspective developed by Erich Fromm in his book May Man Prevail, written many years ago. Perhaps the historical period we are going through may be an appropriate time to re-read this book.