(This thesis was published last year, but the situation has barely changed)
In China and India, various domestic factors hinder growth. But in this respect, the
United States, the European Union, and Japan are not in a better position, either. The West is now deprived of many attributes of the modern era, which facilitated their economic growth.
In Western European countries, the youth has largely lost their cultural backbone; they read far less Greek and Roman classics in school, and they do not go to church. The healthy sense of independence and individualism that used to be prominent among Western whites has been worn away by the universal PC game culture, Japanese anime, and cosplay.
In the United States, freedom and democracy have practically become the prerogative of the successful class. In corporations, executives covet exorbitant compensation, and labor union leaders justify their positions by demanding exorbitant wage hikes and pensions that force corporations to flinch and flee abroad.
In the US political funding is now effectively unlimited (with anonymity guarded), which allows the rich to control the political process. They use members of Congress to try to shrink the federal government and reduce the tax burden. And the neocon forces of the Democratic Party do not hesitate to intervene in the politics of developing countries by force. Unless people learn a little more to restrain their desire for the sake of others’ well-being, they will destroy their own country.
The Industrial Revolution in Reverse
In the 19th century, the rapid industrialization of Western Europe greatly increased the number of people belonging to the “middle class”. The middle class demanded the right to vote, and political parties responded by establishing democratic systems based on the premise that all adults have the right to vote.
Now, however, with the exodus of manufacturing industries overseas, the industrialized countries are in a situation of a “reverse industrial revolution“. In other words, the manufacturing industry is shrinking and the number of relatively high-wage workers and employees generated by the manufacturing industry is decreasing; only the democratic system of one man, one vote remains.
The middle class, with its declining standard of living, is permanently dissatisfied and supports populist politicians and parties that make empty promises to relieve their
plight, leading beyond populism to the rise of an authoritarian far-right. The “modern era” of democracy supported by rising economic and living standards” is in the twilight.
The Advent of the “New Age of Robotics and AI”
In the midst of this confusion, the “new age of robotics and AI” is arriving, whether we like it or not. Society may be divided into a very few super elites who design, use, and are used by robots and AI, and a large army of “non-elites”.
In developed countries, the status and role of the “state” is declining, as more and more young men and women avoid working for the government or military, whereas most gifted people are absorbed in the search for ways to manage the new civilization with robots and AI.
On the other hand, Russia and developing countries are still thinking and acting with 19th century mindsets. They value childish vanity, such as which country is bigger than which, has a larger GDP, or has a stronger military.
The Japanese slogan should be “realization of a humane way of life” and “think about others’ well-being”
What should we in Japan do in this situation? Let’s not be too quick to talk about strengthening or abrogating the Japan-U.S. alliance, but rather, let’s get the basics right. Let us put aside for a moment words like “freedom” and “democracy,” which the U.S. and Europe have compromised so much. As these words are considered to be a means to interfere in the societies of developing countries, these terms only provoke their antipathy.
Instead, we have to get ordinary people in developing countries on our side, and get them to demand more rights and income in a natural way. To this end, we would like to propose the “realization of a humane way of life” as a goal to be pursued through all countries of the world.
The word “humane” contains the lost artifacts of “modernity,” such as respect for one’s own and others’ rights and a high standard of living. On the other hand, for those who pursue selfishness, know no limits, and care little for others, I would like to emphasize the virtues of moderation for the sake of others’ well-being.
While China and India have become the center of the world’s attention, Japan has been completely buried in the world. I would like to make “living a humane life” and “knowing limit of desires” the banner of Japan. These values are inherently very Japanese, and it will be able to make a unique contribution to the world.