– Politics
Last update: 2024-04-12
Sections:
Preparatory notes for this chapter
Might include:
Public policy
World betterment, humanitarianism, disaster relief
To what extent is global management of suffering useful to human development?
Peace and conflict studies, war
Torture
UNO, WHO, International organization…
https://globalprioritiesinstitute.org/ or https://80000hours.org/problem-profiles/global-priorities-research/ which are part of the effective altruism movement.
The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential
We, the Partners, are keeping an eye on this Encyclopedia for what it might contribute to our global management of suffering. The Encyclopedia is currently undergoing redevelopment ! Perhaps we might somehow associate with it to deal in a new way with world problems (to be followed).
Quotes from the site http://encyclopedia.uia.org/en:
The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential is a unique, experimental research work of the Union of International Associations. It is currently published as a searchable online platform with profiles of world problems, action strategies, and human values that are interlinked in novel and innovative ways. These connections are based on a range of relationships such as broader and narrower scope, aggravation, relatedness and more. By concentrating on these links and relationships, the Encyclopedia is uniquely positioned to bring focus to the complex and expansive sphere of global issues and their interconnected nature.
The rapidly changing state of the world makes planning in the face of complex interconnected problems a formidable challenge. Our ability to conceive adequate solutions and strategies is often undermined by our lack of understanding of the nature of problems in their wider context. The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential offers a radically different perspective to associations, policy-makers, social researchers and those concerned with development strategy. By clarifying the ways in which problems reinforce and sustain each other, the Encyclopedia shifts the level of attention from isolated problems to problem cycles, and thus to sustainable strategy cycles. This allows for a more holistic understanding of the environment in which global problems and strategies are situated.
The Encyclopedia includes problems which such groups choose to perceive and act upon, whether or not their existence is denied by others claiming greater expertise. Indeed such claims and counter-claims figure in many of the problem descriptions in order to reflect the often paralyzing dynamics of international debate. In the light of the interdependence demonstrated among world problems in every sector, emphasis is placed on the need for approaches which are sufficiently complex to encompass the factions, conflicts and rival worldviews that undermine collective initiative towards a promising future.
Over the ages humans have recognised problems they face, and have devised and implemented solutions and strategies to overcome them. But what was the problem and logic behind these strategies, how were they implemented, and what were their outcomes – positive or negative, deliberate or unintended? The Global Strategies and Solutions section of the Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential is an ongoing attempt to record and map the relationships between any strategies and solutions that humanity actually or potentially uses, in the hopes that a better overall understanding of which would greatly enhance our ability to formulate effective strategies to global problems.
Quoted from https://uia.org/archive/ency-comm-5-1:
Interweaving world problems, human development and human values
(a) Negative commonality: Despite the apparent differences between the core parts of the Encyclopedia, especially in the case of their more obvious entries, it is interesting to note the commonalities in the case of certain other entries. Some exhibit a considerable overlap between the three parts. (…) the most fundamental entry common to the core parts is that of pain (or suffering) , which again is a principal concern of the major spiritual traditions.