Conflict is now visibly a common symptom across all stratas of society irrespective of levels of income or education. The concept of competition which was initiated as a learning and motivating tool has now become the ‘limiting issue’ that prevents the majority from being able to even ‘enter the fray’. Our systems are now focussed on ‘output’ as the only point of evaluation ( see input vs output), and most persons have looked at amazement and said “what else can we use???”. The answer obviously lies within the QUESTION. Why is OUTPUT the only measure when education and now economic returns are all dependant on human INPUTS!!!

Linear Education has made us FOCUS on “disparity” as the point of learning. We have to ‘separate’ and create categories on a continuous basis as a part and process of learning. WE are to BENCHMARK against the PAST which we know is no longer relevant to the future!! ( see Paradox tools). This has thus given us a ‘reflex based thinking’ that makes us strive to seek essentially for what is “missing” - rather than to rely on what we have. Once again this works for the developed world BUT within resource scarce economies further aggravated by poor infrastructure THIS approach creates conflict because it creates a ‘want’ with no skills that teach self reliance.

The “good intention” of linear logic based teaching ceases to provide benefit in an “infrastructure-deficient environment” and Non Linear returns are apparent. In developed societies with surplus infrastructure the same teaching will provide the opposite impetus for growth and linear returns.

Can we create a chronological sequence based on our education inputs that have lead to ‘Relative Saturation’ ?

The first stage result from “education inputs” almost always provides the intended and perfect result within the society; and helps create what we call CIVIL-isation. From this point on we have through linear logic continued to stress and teach that “individual success” is the only means of economic survival and social growth. Our socio-economic systems and laws have thus aspired to create a society of “individual equals” with each person having the aspiration to be “more equal” than others. Conflict becomes the obvious resultant !!

Education, books, Parents and Gurus have always taught us to Push to Excel, Assert, and exhorted us to win over a rising number. The quest has therefore always been for us to stay ahead of others ‘or else’ be left behind! NLT reveals that we have reached a “relative saturation” for the validity of these values.(Inputs driven only by competition). NLT can help people “change” their objectives and goals while retaining the concept of ‘winning’!!

It is perhaps necessary here to explain the intended interpretation of “competition” as within Non Linear Thinking it is intended to REMOVE the existing concept of competition which has become an eneconomical and negative force! Dr Bono already has introduced the concept and coined the word “Surpetition” going beyond and surpassing the concept of competition!!!

Our current systems have perhaps inadvertently promoted CONFLICT, because the focus has been to motivate persons to improve their status and position not in absolute terms but ”relative to others”. We now need to change our interpretation and definitions so as to understand that since competition is a constant “state” the one ahead is at best a “temporary” situation and hence our focus on defeating the competitor may not be a sustainable goal’.

NLT will reveal and help accept that “disagreement and competition” are a natural part of our own growth and social interface; and without them we would have no learning. ‘What we should do next is now a result of the last obstruction??’. Since there is recurrance in this Non Linear era the mind will have to learn to consider them as ‘guideposts’ instead of ‘barriers’!!! ( this is not intended to be philosophical as are most writings from the East!)

The “Competitor” needs thus to be seen not only as the one who deprives us of a market share, BUT also as a source that helps us to identify and create our own uniqueness to identify our own market “niche”.

Interactive Overload:
Digitisation of data permits ‘archiving with easy access’. Mass and Multi-media has increased the available inputs from the mass opinion pool which means that there is a constant increasing the variations of ‘opinions and views’. Our decision making (output) systems are however still designed to be narrow and focussed.

There is thus no INHERENT DESIGNED PREPAREDNESS in our systems for the RECEIPT/INPUT of divergent views and options.

Conflict is thus the unfortunate result within the ever increasing levels of diversity of opinion . This was not anticipated within an increase in literacy.

Our systems did not foresee or forecast, that media, live television, Instant Opinion polls and special interest groups, would create so many opinions and centers of power which today have to be recognized and accommodated when taking decisions.

In this Non Linear era - it is difficult to assume that there can be a consensus on solutions design making it extremely difficult for actions to be implemented. Even if the problems are acknowledged by all within Democracy the power of “special interest groups” now insure that they prevent change.

Current levels of competition which are severest at the student level are increasingly with greater push from the parents and the system; convincing the citizens of tomorrow and even businesses that they must be in the “top” - 10% of their work or product environment in order to succeed. We are all convinced that big “capital” is required even for a good education - and hence obviously for a normal living.

This brings about an obvious and early stage of helplessness, for the majority who constitute the “balance 90%”. For them within their early years , the future starts to look bleak, over competitive and uncertain. Stress and Conflict has thus become a natural response – because we believe that to survive “almost-all” of us have to be in the TOP 10%- Despite knowing that this is not feasible!!

Non Linear Thinking reveals that these are “relative perceptions” created by ‘past based systems’ that would have us believe that the future belongs to those who have a successful past!! The Non Linear era is showing through rapid fluctuations that this linear logic is failing!!

We thus have LIMITED SKILLS or know-how to live as economic or physical unequals. The past has always had a strong linear formula where Education, economics, muscle, hard work ; ALL OR IN ANY COMBINATION have guaranteed success and dominance. Today even though this linear- link has been upset - the systems continue to sell us the same message.

Conflict and Chaos are the unpleasant reactions, when we are unable to anticipate disparities within the pace of change! Therefore our current confused state is just a natural “shake - up” and transition between 2 stages, created by our own inability to change our inputs. ( see 'The Logic of Chaos' )

HIERARCHY - the 'Cause' or the 'Controller' of Conflict ?

Paradox: There is a lesser Apparent/Visible conflict, when there is a strong and autocratic hierarchy. Yet, it is “autocracy” that finally creates a hierarchy bringing about its own end through conflict. For the majority within a population the quest constantly remains for equalization - and hence for the removal of the autocratic authority.

In the past leadership and hierarchy - systems were able to control conflict because they were able to keep the majority preoccupied with their individual economic survival. ( This explains the coincidental poverty and ignorance which is a feature in most autocratic or non-democratic societies. (The few exceptions are explained in the chapter 'Enlarging Democracy !' ). Those in control and in governance have always assumed that basic discipline would be created by society itself; cultural and human values would remain inherent as imbibed through the “old” natural inputs from family, social laws and reli­gion. This assumption is no longer relevant in a Non Linear era, where Economics is the driver of human values.

The basic individual quest for equalization thus us seen to clash with the old definitions of discipline and rejects old human values which are perceived to be dictates of a hierarchy. We have failed to evolve any alternate system to “hierarchy” for control and influence over people ( linear logic within the majority says ‘what else is there?’ This is indicative of the problem ). Conflict and chaos thus continue to increase with greater individual aspirations - and in many parts of the world have gone beyond the stage where control by local authority is possible. Total chaos.

In the past, the muscle of hierarchy could delay or avert conflict and chaos merely by restricting the flow of information. This insured a ”lack of awareness”. Today this is almost impossible or at best very temporary in an age of free speech, open information and open skies.

We therefore, need to recount the evolution of Hierarchy and its link with information. WE can no longer accept that only hierarchy can create order; because “Control” based systems are not relevant for the future, as they go against the democratic aspira­tions of modern society.

To evolve alternatives solutions we need to analyse and hypothesize on the evolution of our man-made hierarchy structures.

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How did Hierarchy evolve ?

If we recreate a sequence of events - Hierarchy was First creat­ed by muscle and force.This was the progressive result of our “animal instinct “ that nature has instilled in man. We are instinctively enthralled by the power and hence have a natural desire to control!!. It was perhaps not considered relevant to those in control that all of Human Kind has a natural hatred to control and would resort to force to overcome control . Control had to thus go beyond muscle!

The next stage saw - the existing “forces” in control being formalized through introduction of systems that had to accept them as “ordained” to rule or control by virtue of birth and lineage. Kings were thus born!! This success was further granted a permanence by the creation of dynasties and kingdoms.

The introduction of “money” and continued use of “muscle and force” led to the evolution of ‘edicts of the rulers’ and so-the rules of law evolved. This further legitimized “control”. Laws’ acquired their status as the necessary guidelines for society, which were decided by Hierarchy - as their right !

Money, muscle and control were thus allocated their euphemistic legitimacy in the modern English language as Economics, Law and Order!!!

Hierarchy always requires ‘past based systems to endorse their control’ and hence Religion was added as the additional and ‘most critical component’ during the onset of the modern ages. All the three Hierarchies of Muscle, Money and Religion have since fought or collaborated for the sake of control through our History into the modern era.

Control became self-sustaining because “Humans in control and within their hierarchical design are by unannounced intent not too willing to allow democratic equitability. The Humans left out of hierarchy therefore continue their quest to become “equitable”.

So Conflict is created by our social design and is therefore a “natural part of the process” where there is an effort to create or resist equalization. This is further aggravated and extended in infrastructure deficient environments where there is a lack of opportunity and hence poor economic conditions.