A call to action
A year has ended, about which a year ago, Jan 10, 2024, Ian Bremmer wrote [1] :
"2024. Politically it’s the Voldemort of years. The annus horribilis. The year that must not be named. I’d love to sugar-coat it, but I can’t: From a global political risk perspective, this is the most dangerous and uncertain year I’ve covered in my lifetime."
He then continued:
"As we write in Eurasia Group’s 2024 Top Risks report, three wars will dominate world affairs: Russia vs. Ukraine, now in its third year; Israel vs. Hamas, now in its third month; and the United States vs. itself, ready to kick off at any moment."
About a year later Annie Cohen-Solal, a French historian and distinguished Professor in the Department of Social and Political Sciences at Bocconi University stated [2] in 2024-12-16 apparently unrelatedly:
"Now, a year later, there is no longer any doubt: 2024 did not bring us much happiness. When politicians go astray, when institutions fall silent, when populism runs riot, it is up to individuals to lead the way."
Maybe it is worth noting that through her family background as Algerian (Sephardic) Jews Annie Cohen-Solal is maintaining a long-term view, anchored in Al -Andalus [3], a few 500 years back.
Ian Bremmer’s bleak outlook had already prompted me to revisit it in a blog post [4] later last year. I concluded, that the "progress" 2024 has had made after having lived through more than its 1st third was not serving to lift my mood.
However, as I once disclosed, I am considering myself an optimist in a doomed world. I hence cling to a kind of desperate opiumism. It is not just to feel better during the years that are left to me, but in order to nourish my strength to take action.
I don't want to end up blaming myself for not having acted, for having been just a passenger on the Starship Earth, but a valuable crew member contributing to its direction and being the change myself.
So, eventually I joined the Europeans for the Planet, the party for Europe's place in the world, to take care of our planet.
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[1] Bremmer, I. (2024, January 3). Why 2024 is the Voldemort of years. GZERO Media. https://www.gzeromedia.com/by-ian-bremmer/why-2024-is-the-voldemort-of-years
In this article, Ian Bremmer discusses the geopolitical challenges anticipated in 2024, referring to it as the "Voldemort of years" due to the convergence of multiple significant conflicts. He highlights three major wars: the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, escalating tensions in the Middle East, and internal political strife within the United States. Bremmer emphasizes that these simultaneous crises are expected to exacerbate global instability, making 2024 a particularly tumultuous year in international relations.
[2] Cohen-Solal, A. (2024, December 16). Guernica is always with us. Project Syndicate. https://www.project-syndicate.org/magazine/2024-war-climate-change-bring-tragedy-and-devastation-by-annie-cohen-solal-2024-12
- In this article, Annie Cohen-Solal reflects on the tumultuous events of 2024, drawing parallels to Pablo Picasso's "Guernica," a powerful depiction of the tragedies of war and the suffering it inflicts upon individuals. She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and confronting the harsh realities of the contemporary world, much like Picasso did in his time. Cohen-Solal's perspective offers a poignant reminder of the enduring relevance of art in interpreting and responding to global crises.
[3] Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica (2024-12-19)
- Also called: Muslim Spain, Date: 711 - c. 2016, Key People: 'Abd al-Rahman III Umayyad dynasty Abu Muslim Hisham ibn 'Abd al-Malik 'Abd al-Rahman I, Related Topics: Islam Mozarab, Related Places: Spain Portugal Ceuta Galicia Córdoba, Al-Andalus, Muslim kingdom that occupied much of the Iberian Peninsula from 711 ce until the collapse of the Spanish Umayyad dynasty in the early 11th century. The Arabic name Al-Andalus was originally applied by the Muslims (Moors) to the entire Iberian Peninsula; it likely refers to the Vandals who occupied the region in the 5th century. In the 11th century, when European Christians began to reconquer the peninsula, Al-Andalus, or Andalusia, came to mean only the area still under Muslim control and thus became permanently attached to the modern-day region.
[4] Walther, H. (2024, May 30). The times they are a-changin'. Horst Walther's Blog. https://horst-walther.blogspot.com/2024/05/the-times-they-are-changin.html
- In this reflective blog post, Horst Walther examines the socio-political transformations of 2024, drawing parallels to Bob Dylan's iconic song "The Times They Are a-Changin'." Walther discusses the resurgence of historical conflicts, the erosion of neutrality in nations like Switzerland, the shifting principles of political parties such as the German Greens, and the weaponization of technology. He critiques the decline of free markets and the press's role as the Fourth Estate, suggesting that the world is experiencing a new era of geopolitical tension reminiscent of a "Cold War 2.0." Walther concludes by emphasizing the need for individual action and optimism in navigating these complex changes.
