Dr. Pradyumna Pandey’s Post

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬? The UK's Business and Trade Minister Kemi Badenoch : “𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘒 𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳...𝘐𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 [𝘵𝘰𝘰] 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝒊𝒇 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒅𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒉, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒑𝒔." Her narrative is rooted in thinking like Walter Rostow's Modernisation Theory (long been the foundation of Development policies and agendas): the idea that there are 5 stages of 'modernisation' that "all nations" go through. A meritocracy-for-the-world style theory, it conveniently erases entirely the CENTURIES of colonialism and institutionalised enslavement which are 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 in shaping the distribution of wealth, economic power and political influence across the global political economy over the past 450 odd years. In keeping with this, the tale that Badenoch presents hinges on a set of assumptions: that the Global North is full of smarter, more advance, more intelligent, more creative, more capable people, better at making clever and advantageous decisions to (apparently) ensure prosperity, liberty and advancement for themselves and their communities. 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭? That economic underdevelopment in the Global South is a product of a lack of all of the above 'capabilities' in the people of the Global South. Not systematically sanctioned by the Global North, now and then. 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝? In the Colonial Office of Britain, and its attendants. The same colonial logics play out in how people and nations impacted by colonialism are expected to behave. Badenoch goes on to say “𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯, 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺, 𝘐 𝘨𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘒’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮, 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴" Because in the logic of coloniality, those colonised are expected to see themselves as responsible for any disadvantage they experience, look with adoration on their colonisers, be grateful for their "support" (read:continued oppression) and not complain. 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥. Colonialism is alive and well.

confidence in america’s institutions: at an all time low confidence in america’s ability to destroy itself: at an all time high #toprisks2024 https://lnkd.in/ekf-Mdfg

More than worth the read as a searing and powerful piece in Byline Times by Jennifer Nadel FRSA of Compassion in Politics. It flags the deeper challenges and deceptions of realpolitik as outright lying is normalised across supposedly democratic political ecosystems. It also frames some “no brainer” steps political systems can implement now to protect themselves. Also, I see a direct line of site between politicians lying and our multifaceted polycrisis now manifest globally in so many ways. The Blended Capital Group has advocated for over a decade firm political, investor, business and - critically - community wide vision and action to understand the impacts of mestatisizing risks on a changing planet. Where are our States People able to see decades ahead and act collaboratively as CCSRs accelerate? Honesty best policy…..

Will anything ever change if we don't see a return to the true responsibilities of a politician...? We haven't seen a politician for over 24 years. Do you know any that meet these responsibilities? Here are some of the key responsibilities of politicians: 1. Representation: Politicians are elected to represent the interests of all their constituents. This means understanding the needs, values, and concerns of the people they serve and advocating for policies that reflect those. 2. Legislation: One of their core functions is creating, amending, and passing laws. These laws shape public policy, regulate industries, protect citizens' rights, and establish societal norms. 3. Public Accountability: Politicians are accountable to the public for their actions and decisions. They must be transparent, adhere to ethical standards, and be prepared to explain their positions and decisions. 4. Problem-Solving and Decision-Making: They are responsible for addressing issues ranging from local concerns (like education and healthcare) to national and global challenges (such as economic policy, climate change, or national security). This involves making difficult choices and balancing competing interests. 5. Leadership and Advocacy: Politicians provide leadership by promoting specific causes, rallying public support, and working to implement solutions that improve society. They are also expected to take a stand on important issues, even in the face of opposition that is in the best interest of their constituents. 6. Budget and Resource Allocation: Elected officials play a critical role in determining how public resources are spent, ensuring that tax revenue is used efficiently and in ways that benefit the common good of their constituents. 7. Crisis Management: In times of crises (natural disasters, economic downturns, or pandemics), politicians must respond quickly and effectively to protect the public and guide recovery efforts. 8. Diplomacy and International Relations: On a global level, politicians may engage in diplomacy, work to strengthen international alliances, and navigate complex geopolitical relationships. Ultimately, politicians' responsibility is to act in the best interest of the public, fostering progress while maintaining integrity and upholding democratic values.

Here's a vital political question around economic inequality and the erosion of democratic institutions - why should the super-rich be able to transform their wealth into political power, and just how far can they go? 👉A provocative and timely counter-narrative: https://loom.ly/cdha8lE #billgates #gatesfoundation #economicinequality #economy #politics

Why I’m proud to be part of the Commonwealth: The Commonwealth Charter unites its member states through shared values like democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. It emphasizes the commitment of its nations to promote peace, prosperity, and free societies while improving the lives of all Commonwealth citizens. In a world of economic uncertainty and threats to peace, the Commonwealth remains a powerful force for good, fostering cooperation and development. As a voluntary association of equal, sovereign states, it promotes international understanding, benefits global society, and strengthens bonds through shared history, culture, and values. The Commonwealth's strength lies in its diversity and respect for all nations and peoples. It supports consensus, consultation, and practical cooperation, serving as a model for global partnerships and co-operation. It also champions small states, advocating for their unique needs, providing policy advice, and delivering technical assistance on political, economic, and social issues. The Commonwealth’s many intergovernmental and civil society bodies, along with its various declarations, further reinforce its core principles of inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, and responsiveness. Together, these values reflect the enduring strength of the Commonwealth. The commonwealth model law on virtual assets is the greatest example of unification I can offer

A great article on what's needed to build the society we all deserve. Thanks for sharing Nicole Anand! https://lnkd.in/guuBZGvc "We must believe that these transformations are possible. We must own the right to make this country better, on our terms. We can and must be the founders of a nation where all have equal protection, our economy is designed to benefit people and the planet, not just profit, and we have rectified the harms of the past to open the possibility of a new future."

I have a new article out in this month's edition of New Internationalist! Reflecting on the topic of debt justice, I explore what it would mean for our world if we banned billionaires. Huge thank you to Dr Vasileios Leontitsis for a brilliant and thought-provoking discussion on the topic of degrowth, and the potential for global society if we switched to an 'economy of care'. https://lnkd.in/eh_kCWeZ

Right vs. Wrong = Politics :)). I wish. Our duty as a democracy and a free country would be so much easier. Right would be to address things honestly as they came ups. Not waiting for opportune timing to reveal. Right would be putting family legacy and money aside to fairly assess our Nation’s problems. Wrong would be overlooking them for monetary gain. Setting up our country to fail, forcing bail outs to control the vote….:((. Looking the other direction on difficult topics, all while lobbying or protesting them, outside of Congress / House. Never standing up. Dems do this well. It helps to stir the media pot in multiple directions. They are brainwashed into this by powerful Jews. We go back and forth on semi inconsequential line items, knowing good and well they are far to controversial or woven in for either side to let go of / change their stance. Just another topic at that point. (Global Warming, Race, Healthcare, Energy, Finance, etc.) These happen to be the ONLY topics we need to be addressing. Yet, it never happens. Right of Left. It never changes. So. WE ARE ALL FORCED TO ASSUME IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE THAT YOU ARE ALL ALSO COMPLICIT OR GUILTY ON WHAT COMES NEXT. :((. You guys made the bed. It will be time to lay shortly. I’m not referring to the criminals you find “responsible” for such atrocities. I’m referring to you individually. Your souls and your abilities to get re-elected. Everything you avoided, I was documenting. With dates. Everything you are trying to avoid discussing, we will discuss. Publicly. This time, I’m referring to things such as sex trafficking, reperations, race reform, corruption, innocent people dying or being misinformed for decades / centuries, …. If any of you aren’t prepared, you too will be erased or replaced. Trust and believe. This will take years. At least one term. When we are successful, we can then begin to discuss the other topics mentioned above. Things holding us back as a capitalistic country. Hypocrisy essentially. (Global Warming, Race, Healthcare, Energy, Finance, Equality…..) None of you want subpoenas. None of you want to be forced into revealing what your hiding. There are several common denominators in that room that the public deserves to know. I won’t tell as of now. 💊 Can do it nicely or we can do it another way. lmk. #congress #house US Congress U.S. House of Representatives *car was broken into last night. Looking for NDA with Bernie Pike. They missed it. :)* GAME ON FuCKos

The real question to be answered at this SONA is what drives things? What drives a second term for the president, what is driving foreign policy and how does he sort out the deeper problems in society faster? Asks Peter Attard Montalto in his Business Day column. Visit https://lnkd.in/dPiNn4qz to read more.