the learning of global solidarity

[g kohler <gko15@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Having been an educator, I cannot but think that learning is important,
including collective learning. Hence this note on collective learning in
connection with the recent tsunami.

The philosophical relationship between collective learning and the laws of
motion of history ? I leave that to others to conceptualize and elaborate. I
am concentrating on the collective learning side.

In my view, collective learning of global solidarity, like much of any
learning, takes place in bursts, rather than continually. Or, better, in a
combination of slow, continuous learning with intermittent bursts (leap of
consciousness, aha experiences).

Who are the learners? Collective learning may take place within a small
group, within a social stratum, within a social class, within a country,
within a region of the world, or globally.

Global solidarity is a fuzzy concept. It may be global solidarity with the
global underdogs, with the global poor, the victims of colonization, with a
world-wide war effort, or other.

In the last hundred years, various bursts of collective learning can be
observed in the world-system. Here are a few:

(a)among the formerly colonized people - colonizers can be defeated
(b)among Europeans - international cooperation is better than international
war
(c)from World War II - solidarity against aggressive nations may be
necessary and can be successful
(d)from the limits-to-growth debate of the 1970s and on - the global
ecosystem is endangered by the human species
(e)from the Zapatista 1994 revolt -  leftists of the world engaged in
solidarity
(f)global solidarity against the South African apartheid regime prior to
1994
(g)the recent tsunami - non-leftist majorities of the rich countries are
learning a bit of global solidarity, as everyone could see rich and poor,
whites and non-whites killed and washed ashore without distinction

Whatever one says about the laws of motion of history, global solidarity is
being learnt in whatever small ways. Of course, much more learning is
desirable, as always.

Gernot Kohler