In order to understand this phenomenon, it is necessary to think differently and adopt a new approach. The current way of thinking has not been successful in addressing this issue. Furthermore, there is a certain degree of critical blindness with regard to the current situation.
This largely reflects the dominant cultural trends in modern Western popular culture, and unfortunately, it does influence the thinking of the local elite.
For example, last year the American film “Maverick” was released, followed by “Shadow Land” this year. Essentially, both films focus on a country, other than the United States, which has a nuclear laboratory, a reactor and other facilities. It is not acceptable for this to continue, and the United States should address this threat. There is no question about whether or not the United States has the right to interfere with the affairs of another country by bombing it, killing its scientists and military personnel, and potentially harming innocent civilians. Instead, the discussion should focus on the accuracy of the intelligence data collected. If the data is reliable, then everything is OK, but if it is inaccurate, as was the case with Iraq, there is cause for concern. Additionally, in “Shadow Land”, the elderly retired President is revealed to be a real killer, which is not surprising in either the film or real life.
I am not being sarcastic at all; in the context of US cinema, the notion that North American patriotism begins 10,000 kilometers from Washington, somewhere in Afghanistan, is entirely natural. If we question the right of the United States to govern the world in a manner that precludes any country from making significant decisions without US approval, we will not be understood within the United States. Seriously.
Furthermore, significantly, if we propose that it would be sensible to develop a system whereby the people of the world (with the assistance of certain institutions) could collectively discuss and address threats, while the United States does not play an exclusive role, a majority of the American elite would undoubtedly find this idea amusing. The notion that the elites of countries such as China, India, Russia, or Ukraine could solve their issues independently of the United States is fundamentally rejected.
As a result, an unprecedented situation has emerged: it appears that the radically global discourse space has also fractured. As I mentioned above, it seems as if we inhabit different planets, with no shared global stage. In reality, and this is both remarkable and alarming, we do inhabit the same planet and we are incredibly interdependent. Overall, it is worth re-engaging in a global discussion about the most crucial issues facing our collective survival. I am referring to humanity, because we are all mortal.
The Valdai Discussion Club was established in 2004. It is named after Lake Valdai, which is located close to Veliky Novgorod, where the Club’s first meeting took place.
