The Loss of the Future

The Loss of the Future


Yavlinsky G.A.,

Dr. Sci. (Econ.), Professor, National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE). Moscow, Russia, mmitkina@mail.ru


elibrary_id: 829244 |


DOI: 10.17976/jpps/2017.05.10
Rubric: DIXI!

For citation:

Yavlinsky G.A. The Loss of the Future. – Polis. Political Studies. 2017. No. 5. P. 133-155. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2017.05.10



Abstract

The author, an eminent economist and politician, analyzes alarming trends in global development that found their reflection in the voting for Brexit in the United Kingdom, in the outcome of the 2016 presidential elections in the United States, in the migration crisis in Europe and in a number of other landmark events and phenomena of our times. As a follow-up to the concept proposed in his book “Realeconomik”, he notes that what is happening now is far from being accidental. The current tremendous amount of events derive from the factors that have gained strength in the last quarter of the twentieth century. Among them were the following: a) the growth of global inequality in its various manifestations combined with a sense of inability to surmount them; b) the disorganization of the world order that emerged after the World War 2; c) the transformation in the sphere of information and communication technologies that outstrip the development of human consciousness; d) the change in the laws governing the functioning of the world economy. The author critically examines the urge for a political “U-turn”, which has become a spontaneous response to a severe contemporary issues. He believes that the thoughtful attitude of global and national elites toward the factors he suggested for consideration, the awareness of political leaders of the world of their responsibility for its development can prevent an inaccurate reaction that inevitably will result in the growth of chaos. In the second part of the article, the author provides us with a short, but an in-depth analysis of serious changes in the global ratio of centers of political and economic power. He considers the large-scale changes in the world order, called differently (“change of leadership”, the formation of a “multipolar” (polycentric) world, “new normality” in international relations, etc.). In his opinion, all the above terms express the same essence, i.e. the back-pedaling to the past models of global equilibrium. His special concern is the increasingly diminishing role of Europe, which loses not only political and economic power, but also value-oriented and sense-oriented guidance, which is fraught with negative implications for the civilization based – in one way or another – on the ideals of European modernity. The author expresses and substantiates doubts about the existence in the modern world of an integral alternative concept that could replace them, and sees the eventual starting point for overcoming the global crisis in a qualitatively new comprehension of the current situation on the basis of European values. 

Keywords
Russia; world order; globalization; the West; consciousness of postmodernity; chronotope; global inequality; technology of consciousness; the Fourth industrial revolution; “again policy”.


References

Acemoglu D., Restrepo P. Robots and Jobs: Evidence from US Labor Markets. NBER Working Paper. 2017. No. w23285. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3386/w23285

Kozlov D.V. Political Behavior in Modern Russia in the Light of the Ressentiment Concept. – Polis. Political Studies. 2017. No. 1. P. 85-98. (In Russ.) DOI: https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2017.01.08

Harari Y.N. Homo Deus: a Brief History of Tomorrow. HarperCollins. 2016. 448 p.

Hayek F.A. The Fatal Conceit: The Errors of Socialism. (Russ. ed.: Hayek F.A. Pagubnaya samonadeyannost’. Oshibki sotsializma. Moscow: Novosti; Gatallaxy. 1992. 304 p.)

McLuhan M. Understanding Media. London, New York: Routledge. 2001. 400 p.

Mishra P. Age of Anger: A History of the Present. N.Y.: Penguin Books. 2017. 412 p.

Nietzsche F. K genealogii morali [To the Genealogy of Morality]. – Nietzsche F. Works. In 2 vol. Vol. 2. Moscow: Mysl’. 1990. 407-524 p. (In Russ.)

Nash J.F. Non-Cooperative Games. – Annals of Mathematics. 1951. Vol. 54. No. 2. P. 286-295. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1969529

Sсheler M. Ressentiment. (Russ. ed.: Scheler M. Resentiment v strukture moraley. St. Petersburg: Nauka; Universitetskaya kniga. 1999. 231 p.)

Ukhtomskiy A.A. Dominanta [Dominant]. St. Petersburg: Piter Publishers. 2002. 448 p. (In Russ.)

Yavlinsky G., Kogan-Yasny V. Resurrecting Dostoevsky’s dictum: why Russia and Europe need each other. – Europe’s World. Summer 2007. No. 6. P. 28-36.

Yavlinsky G.A. Retsessiya kapitalizma. Skrytye prichiny [The Recession of Capitalism. Hidden Reasons]. Moscow: The Higher School of Economics Publishing House. 2014. 184 p. (In Russ.)

Yavlinsky G.A. Realeconomik. The Hidden Cause of the Great Recession (And How to Avert the Next One). Lindon, New Haven: Yale University Press. 2011. 166 p. 

Content No. 5, 2017

See also:


Karaganov S.A.,
Departure of Military Superiority of the West, and Geo-Economics. – Polis. Political Studies. 2019. No6

Chebankova E.A.,
New world order: restoration or moral revolution?. – Polis. Political Studies. 2023. No3

Rutland P.,
Russia and China: Saga of Two Transitions to Market Economy. – Polis. Political Studies. 2009. No3

Davydov A.P.,
«The faustian complex» and Russia. – Polis. Political Studies. 2009. No6

Lukin V.P., Oznobishchev S.K.,
Russia in the World of the 21st Century: Accomplishments and Hopes. – Polis. Political Studies. 2018. No6

 
 

Archive

   2024      2023      2022      2021   
   2020      2019      2018      2017      2016   
   2015      2014      2013      2012      2011   
   2010      2009      2008      2007      2006   
   2005      2004      2003      2002      2001   
   2000      1999      1998      1997      1996   
   1995      1994      1993      1992      1991