David Machin and Gwen Bouvier
Professors in Social Sciences
Many books tell us at present that western societies are experiencing increasing social and economic inequalities. And the wealth continues to concentrate in a number of countries and a small proportion of the world’s population. This small proportion is able to ride on the labour of the rest, in processes organised by global corporations, banking and international regulation. I wonder how this can change. And in these privileged societies people seem to become inwardly focused on virtue signalling, individualism, and entitlement, unable even to appreciate what they have. Corporations, marketing and politics are able to absorb, steer and re-contextualize any concerns that we may have. In the end, it seems we are all blaming each other.
What seems certain is that the solution has to rely on compassion and knowledge, and on not inventing enemies. This means generosity and listening. Understanding people for what they are, and even why they are the way they are.