Systems science for a better future

Context:

The Pew Research Center's survey in 2023 on citizens' preferences for authoritarian rulers versus multi-party democracy reveals concerning trends across various countries, including significant support for dictatorial leadership in both the Global South and the West.

Survey Findings:

• Preference for Authoritarianism: The survey highlights substantial support for authoritarian rulers in countries like India, Indonesia, South Africa, and Brazil in the Global South, with a significant percentage of citizens favoring dictators over multi-party democracy. Surprisingly, even in Western democracies like the United Kingdom and the United States, a notable proportion of respondents expressed preference for authoritarian leadership.
• Economic Discontent: Citizens' waning trust in their governments' economic policies is evident, with growing income inequality and the concentration of wealth among the very rich. Large corporations and financial institutions wield considerable influence, shaping government policies to favor their interests, which exacerbates economic disparities and environmental exploitation.
• Environmental Concerns: The survey underscores the looming environmental crisis, exacerbated by rapid global economic growth and population expansion. Scientists warn of the unsustainable use of fossil energy and the depletion of vital resources like water, particularly in countries like India, which faces severe water scarcity despite its significant population share.

Challenges and Recommendations:

• Fragmented Sciences: The fragmentation of sciences into narrow silos impedes holistic understanding of complex systems, including social, economic, and environmental dynamics. A lack of interdisciplinary collaboration hinders comprehensive solutions to multifaceted challenges, such as the interplay between democracy, capitalism, and environmental sustainability.
• Economic Ideologies: The rise of free market fundamentalism has entrenched economic ideologies that prioritize capital interests over human welfare and environmental conservation. Narrow economic perspectives fail to address systemic inequalities and environmental degradation, perpetuating unsustainable growth models.
• Need for Holistic Approaches: Addressing contemporary global challenges requires a paradigm shift towards holistic, systems-based approaches that integrate diverse perspectives and promote cooperation over competition. Embracing a science of self-adaptive systems and fostering organizations driven by cooperation rather than competition can facilitate sustainable solutions to complex societal and environmental issues.