Research
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Rosa Balfour, Frances Z. Brown, Yasmine Farouk, …
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Source: Getty
In The Media
Being In Charge Ain’t What It Used to Be
Although the change in power dynamics has led to increased competition and advanced opportunities for voters, citizens, workers, and entrepreneurs, it is also tied to the political gridlock taking place around the world.
By Moisés Naím
Published on Mar 28, 2013
Source: Yahoo's Daily Ticker
Speaking on Yahoo's Daily Ticker, Carnegie's Moisés Naím discussed the fleeting nature of power. Chief executives in 30 of 34 democracies are dealing with a parliament controlled by the opposition, as landslide victories are becoming "endangered species." Political gridlock has been observed at home in Washington, D.C. with the sequester, as well as abroad with the outcome of the Italian elections. The trend is evidenced in corporations as well, asserted Naím. Although the financial sector continues to be powerful, the use and the capacity of their power are constrained.
Although this change in power dynamics seems beneficial and a shift to celebrate, there are risks, Naím continued. Aside from the increased competition, more intense scrutiny, and advanced opportunities for voters, citizens, workers, and entrepreneurs, the downside is manifesting in the gridlock observed in politics. Gridlock is creating weaker democracies with governments incapable of delivering timely decisions effectively. This is in turn making decisions on a global level more difficult. Furthermore, the capacity for countries to work collaboratively to tackle issues is declining, explained Naím.
It would be too simple to say the Internet, media, and other IT revolutionary technologies are the driving forces, Naím added. These are simply tools that are being used by users. But these users are being driven, directed, and motivated by tertiary factors. These tectonic changes, as Naím described them, include changes in demographics as well as the international distribution of assets and activities. The forces behind the shift in power can be categorized as either the More revolution, the Mobility revolution, and the Mentality revolution.
This interview was originally broadcast on Yahoo's Daily Ticker.
About the Author
Moisés Naím
Distinguished Fellow
Moisés Naím is a distinguished fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a best-selling author, and an internationally syndicated columnist.
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Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
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