Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
3 - Inequality and conflict
Colin Butler
Darwin's concept of fitness implies inequalities and competition as the main drivers of
the evolutionary process. Yet cooperation within and between species is essential to
achieve stable societies, a process which is supported by complexity theory. Over recent
years there have been increasing inequalities in access to economic and natural
resources between and within industrialised and developing countries. Recognition of
these disparities by the dispossessed, combined with resource depletion and population
growth, promote ethnic and religious discord and violence that can only exacerbate
the situation. Achievement of peace and sustainability for our precarious world will
require a revolutionary change away from denial and towards widespread considera-
tion of carrying capacity and inequality, rather than aggravating instability through
policies embodied in the so-called 'War on Terror'. This will entail an ideological shift
from competition towards cooperation.
Inequality characterises many human and non-human systems. It can
never be eliminated, but this does not necessarily mean inequality is evil,
immoral or wrong. Some inequality - probably a substantial degree - is
required to provide incentives, make rewards meaningful and to optimise
production, including of many public goods. Having less than others is not
necessarily wrong in itself, even morally, particularly if the wider system
allows prospects of individual improvement and reward for effort. However,
beyond thresholds, excessive inequality is a moral, economic and political
problem. Imagine a banquet in which a small number of gluttons are waited
upon by a large number of enslaved but half-starved attendants. Outside,
equally starved troops guard the hall. Most people would react to this fantas-
tic situation not only with revulsion but also with incredulity; a moment's
thought would suggest the situation is unstable, if not through poisoning
then through an organised revolt by the waiters and troops. It is likely that
