Taking advantage of the shock: towards a more conscious society



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## Taking advantage of the shock: towards a more conscious society

06/05/2020 |
SCP

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* [![ opinion-ricardo-chiva Ricardo_Chiva_15DLL32](/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2020/5/opinion-ricardo-chiva/Ricardo_Chiva_15DLL32.jpg)](#)

The failure of the Madrid climate summit in December 2019 served to show not only the lack of connection between the world's scientists and governments, but to make us feel that behind the latter are some of the large and powerful business groups that have no interest in stopping or reversing the difficult climate situation faced by the planet we live on. These are the same business groups that have led us towards an economic and social model characterised by growing inequality, job insecurity and global poverty.

Curiously, a few days later the first relevant news about the **COVID-19 disease** in China began to appear. Right now, it is a pandemic in which the virus has spread to many countries, with tens of thousands of deaths, with economies in a state of shock and the world's population terrorized and confined. Based on **Naomi Klein**'s ideas about the "shock doctrine", we might think that such business groups and like-minded governments could use such a state of shock to introduce and implement new neoliberal and totalitarian practices that are even harsher for citizens or for the planet. That seems to be the thesis of the philosopher Byung-Chul Han. Recently, Yuval Noah Harari wrote that the shock of the coronavirus would force societies to choose a double dilemma: **totalitarian surveillance and citizen empowerment; or nationalist isolation and global solidarity.** Obviously, Klein's shock doctrine would lead us to think about a potential dystopian society with extreme nationalism and totalitarian controls. In fact, we are already seeing that some political groups in Spain are taking advantage of the situation to call for such revolutions.

But why not thinking about a global solidarity society with empowered citizens? From my point of view, although it is difficult given the pressure from such business and political-media groups, there are three key elements to achieve it: the citizen's response, that of our governments and that of our companies.

Since the beginning of the confinement, citizens have generally shown a high degree of solidarity and responsibility, despite certain displays of selfishness, unconsciousness and stupidity. As far as governments are concerned, it is a matter of them representing the social and citizen majority (not the large corporations), defending their interests and trying to solve their problems in this situation and in the future: progressive taxes, aid to citizens and companies affected, public management of public services, reversal of the privatisation of essential services for society, investment in health, education and public research, minimum income, taxes on large fortunes, etc. Many of these actions are now being carried out or are being considered in our country and those around us, after decades of neoliberal policies. The stateisation of the economy and the resurgence of the public sector are gaining ground. **Individualism and neoliberal selfishness have given way to public solidarity.**

Last but not least, the companies. For years now, a new business model has been emerging at a global level that we can call 'conscious'; a type of company concerned with adding value to society, improving the quality of life of its employees and improving the environment in which we live. In other words, its objective is not only to satisfy the shareholders, but also all the stakeholders or interest groups: society, the environment, employees, other companies, etc.

This kind of companies are leaving behind models based on discipline, control, fear, hierarchy, secrecy and achievement, to focus on trust, compassion, cooperation, self-organisation or transparency. Perhaps the current need for homeworking, for business cooperation, or for adding social value, as some companies have already shown, will increase the number of aware companies. They may have to coexist with business groups focused on achievement and profit maximisation, which are represented by the employers. **Conscious companies may be in the minority, but they exist and are growing.**

Perhaps stupidity is another pandemic, and maybe the lack of critical thinking will not allow us to evolve towards that society of solidarity with empowered citizens and conscious companies. But it is clear that the situation we are experiencing may be an opportunity; an opportunity that we must all seize, because the virus will not solve our problems. And we may be longing for a utopian society, but, as Oscar Wilde said, progress is the realisation of utopias.

**Ricardo Chiva Gómez, Professor of Business Organisation. Universitat Jaume I.**

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