We enabled globalisation and encouraged others to follow our example.
Now we feel threatened by globalisation, immigration, terrorism. Other regions are starting to pass us by. The only edge we still seem to have is technology.
The fear leads us to abandon tolerance, agree to limit our privacy and become defensive of our borders.
Facing thousands of boat refugees over the Mediterranean sea and all the human misery it brings with it exceeds our resources to welcome them. Most are totally unfit to ever prosper here as many are illiterate and uneducated. They will never be able to contribute in our economies that increasingly need only the highest skilled.
This immigration is unsustainable.
Within our traditional mindset, we have no plan how to cope. The population demands solutions which are against all enlightened beliefs.
Populist movements are thriving on this disconnect between popular fears and our democratic and human rights based foundations.
Successful Asian nations are thriving under more or less autocratic regimes, undermining the supremacy of democracy.
Our model may have expired.
How will we adapt?