What the West can learn from the rest

The world is becoming One. But the game is being played according to rules set by the West. In process, we are seeing material gain and progress for developing nations - but also substantial loss. Ode asked leading opinion-makers in the developing countries what the West can learn that would improve Western life and create a better future for all humanity.

| October 2007 issue

The world is becoming One. But the game is being played according to rules set by the West. Where colonialism ultimately failed at running the world, Hollywood and the stock market are succeeding. In the process, we are seeing material gain and progress for developing nations—but also substantial loss. And Westerners may lose just as much in this as the rest of the world. The cultural richness and indigenous innovation that is in danger of being wiped out in Africa, Asia and Latin America by globalization could actually make Western societies healthier and happier. Here are 11 lessons the West can learn from the rest—which can improve Western life and create a better future for all humanity.

HUMILITY (Sri Lanka)

Make a bow, receive a blessing
There is hope for humanity if we learn to bow with love and trust, and to receive blessings. Lalith Gunaratne
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INGENUITY (India)

Finding Solutions for what's possible
Where scarcity and survival are constant challenges in India, the people there adapt by being creative and innovative. Vijay Mahajan
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YOGA (India)

Bend it like a Brahmin
Yoga lends to a harmonious society based on co-operation as opposed to the social model in the West based on competition. Jagdish Parikh
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COMMUNITY (Kenya)

The real social security
The spirit of community provides happiness, support and hope in the poorest of nations. Whereas the West is built upon individualism and materialism. Kimanthi Mutua
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NON-VIOLENCE (India)

One world, many truths
Finding the supreme truth only leads to conflict. Since truth always changes, the Jain religion in India focuses on non-violence. Satish Kumar

DEMOCRACY (Ghana)

Ubuntu for all!
African democracy, called Ubuntu, is focused on including everyone, whereas Western democracy, with its basis in majority rule, divides people and nations. Baffour Ankomah

WORK (Nigeria)

Take the initiative
Asia, Africa and Latin America all host thriving cultures of entrepreneurship where people create work and provide inspiration, whereas the majority of people in the West work for large corporations. Seyi Oyesola

RAISING CHILDREN (Kenya)

Families first
Single working mothers fall back on their extended family and close friends for help, guidance and support. Nthenya Mule

THE VILLAGE (Tanzania)

Someone looking out for you
The village provides strong community ties that help people get by. Zuhura Sinare Muro

HAPPINESS (Bhutan)

Boost your country's GNH today!
The King of Bhutan introduced the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) as opposed to focussing on GPN. This is based on the idea that true development of society takes place when material and spiritual development occur side by side to compliment and reinforce each other.Lyonpo Jigmi Y. Thinley

FOOD (India)

The cradle of local food
Organic, local food is not new to the rest of the world. Farming organically is more profitable and less harmful to the environment. Vandana Shiva

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Comments (2)

I appreciate the writer to bring precious gems from the 'rest' of the world to west. I have expereinced the strong community culture in India and Srilanka. They are priceless.

People in West have to learn the value of 'human connections' and its mesmerizing moment of happiness.

We need to write more about 'beauties' of other countries. God bless!

Hami

posted by HAMI on 10/23/2007 6:28 pm

I had to laugh a bit at the African democracy entry. First of all, can we please move past the misguided generalization of an entire continent and its 53 countries under one name: Africa. Second, having lived in a Malian village where the decision structure was somewhat as described, I have to say it didn't seem very democratic to me or to many of my Malian neighbors. Certainly it didn't to most of the women living there, nor did it to most of the young adults. So unless you can conceive of democracy that excludes well over half of the population you'd better think again about what you are romanticizing.

Finally, let's be honest about this. It's very, very hard to trot out many examples of African countries that are democratic in the sense that, say, Canadians, Spanish or Indians experience it. It's fine to say that there's some sort of special village decision making structure out there in Ghana...and that might be true in Burma too. But that's a bit different from saying there's a viable model for the west to learn from.

posted by nantene on 11/ 5/2007 4:46 pm