Social Impetus: Deceit, Evolution and ICT

Abstract

Stories of people power and the fall of powerful people pervade world history. So what is significant about the present circumstance? What supports the claim that this is a unique era of leadership accountability? Certainly the scale and scope of recent events are seen as new, and there have been many ground-breaking precedents and initiatives. But these observations raise a further question that has not been properly considered: why is there such a concern about ‘distant others’ by ‘disinterested others’ on a global scale? In some circumstances it is arguable that the conduct of powerful people has an actual or potential impact on the lives of unrelated populations in distant places, but that is relatively rare and there are usually many other abuses of power closer to home which should demand attention. We could explain the response in terms of ‘a common feeling of justice’, but why does that feeling exist, and why is it seemingly common around the world?

Let all men know how empty and worthless is the power of kings.

King Canute (Knut), England, c.1000 AD

You are the G8. We are the 6 billion.

Banner at the 2001 Genoa protests