Friday, January 07, 2011
Small is Beautiful
Over the last century, the number of states in the world has doubled, while the number of governments has remained roughly the same. Many of these new states represent administrative units of colonial empires, that unfortunately do not correspond with original political realities. As such, the enduring aboriginal nations incorporated into empires and the states that emerged in their aftermath continue to represent the only natural political entities.
These political entities, belatedly recognized by the United Nations and most of its member states, have seen empires come and go, from precolonial Inca and Mali, to Roman, British and Soviet. Throughout these powerful exchanges, original nations like Basque, Ogoni and Cherokee have learned much about scale and authenticity, which relates to political endurance, diversity and sustainability.
Perhaps the greatest lesson they learned is that small is beautiful.
These political entities, belatedly recognized by the United Nations and most of its member states, have seen empires come and go, from precolonial Inca and Mali, to Roman, British and Soviet. Throughout these powerful exchanges, original nations like Basque, Ogoni and Cherokee have learned much about scale and authenticity, which relates to political endurance, diversity and sustainability.
Perhaps the greatest lesson they learned is that small is beautiful.
