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We're Heading for Civilisational Collapse - Social Psychologist Jonathan Haidt
TRIGGERnometry
Evolution of Human Governance and American Experiment
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Human beings evolved in small, mobile groups that excelled at cooperation for survival against external threats. Civilizations emerged from these groups, typically unified by common religions, lineages, and adversaries, leading to stable societies over generations. In contrast, Western liberal democracies, particularly the American model, arose from the recognition of the inherent instability of direct democracy. Founding fathers designed a system of governance that allows the populace to remove leaders while avoiding direct rule, establishing a complex framework of checks and balances. Key to this American experiment is the notion that self-governance is possible without a monarch, countering the belief held by Europeans at the time. Alexis de Tocqueville noted Americans’ proactive approach to problem-solving, where communities collaboratively address local issues rather than relying on centralized authority. For a self-governing nation to thrive, it is essential for its citizens to possess self-governance skills in their personal lives, enabling them to resolve conflicts independently and effectively.
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