War

Geopolitics

I like following geopolitics. I think it's a really fascinating topic. It's difficult to stay on top of, because there's so much stuff happening in the world and the news are often very unhelpful with getting a good understanding of what is actually happening. Especially when it comes to geopolitics, there's so much deliberate misinformation floating around, so much propaganda and even if it is an unbiased source, it is often heavily emotionalized.

What strikes me often is how naïve some people are. Especially if they themselves are well off, they tend to forget that the world is still full of conflicts, violence and scarcity. In a way I understand them. If you're a compassionate person, it can be quite daunting to realize that you're living a much better life than most other people on the planet. You can try to improve your conscience by donating or even volunteering for some charity. But except for some really extreme cases, you will not change the fact that you are privileged. People deal with that in very different ways, but many just suppress the thought.

Unfortunately, it's this attitude of "looking away", that drives people to assume very naïve positions. Taking a side in a conflict they don't understand. Labeling a whole people as "the bad ones". Believing all the easy explanations and thinking there are easy solutions. In many cases this even leads to hostility. It's crazy, really. People are afraid to be compassionate, as the feeling of compassion would overwhelm them, so they don't act compassionate at all.

I don't really know where I'm going with this. Let's just summarize it like this: Geopolitics is very much driven by emotions. People are bad at emotions.

Comic transcript

Panel 1:
At the same party as last comic, G and H are talking. The algebra audiobook still blasting in the background.
G: I don’t understand why there is still war in the world. Why can’t people just get along?
H: You realize that you’re saying that from a very privileged position, right?
Panel 2:
H: It’s easy to forget, when you’re living in a rich country without serious conflicts, but the fight for survival and the limited resources of the world is still very much ongoing.
G: But we have so much technology. Can’t we ...
Panel 3:
A duck walks over and talks to them.
D: Wow, have you heard? The people in the kitchen are fighting the people in the hallway over the last box of beer. Can you imagine how childish ...
G: angry Ah, so now you think you can come here for our punch? Get out! We don’t have room for refugees.
H looks annoyed.