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--- future_fabulators:little_dictators [2013-11-13 13:51] – alkan
+++ future_fabulators:little_dictators [2014-10-23 10:32] (current) – maja
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 ==== Little Dictators ====
-notes from [[scenario_design_201310]] on the question: “What will happen to fear in 2033?”
+Notes from the Future Fabulators Scenario workshop in October 2013, based on the question "What will happen to [[fear]] in 2033?"
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-In 2033 in the Land of Little Dictators (LLD) all thoughts and actions are driven by suspicion, mistrust, egoism, caginess, greed and dogmatic convictions that exclude all other possible viewpoints, opinions and attitudes. Interactions and transactions – if existing at all – between local or foreign people, companies, or universities are based solely on maximisation of personal profit and assets. Ethical and moral dimensions are off the cards and no one considers others, not the mention “the other.” Values such as understanding, solidarity or fellowship are alien concepts. Exploitation of both the environment and other people is thus the central pillar of the economy as well as the social order – an order which has developed very rigid boundaries between rich and poor. You belong either to the ruling, money-making elite through your business or you are condemned to live in bitter poverty as a slave to the rich.
+In 2033 in the Land of Little Dictators (LLD) all thoughts and actions are driven by suspicion, mistrust, egoism, caginess, greed and dogmatic convictions that exclude all other possible viewpoints, opinions and attitudes. Interactions and transactions – if existing at all – between local or foreign people, companies, or universities are based solely on maximisation of personal profit and assets. Ethical and moral dimensions are off the cards and no one considers others, not the mention “the Other.” Values such as understanding, solidarity or fellowship are alien concepts. Exploitation of both the environment and other people is thus the central pillar of the economy as well as the social order – an order which has developed very rigid boundaries between rich and poor. You belong either to the ruling, money-making elite through your business or you are condemned to live in bitter poverty as a slave to the rich.
-This socioeconomic order has become a highly fertile ground for fear. The poor need to keep frightened to make sure, they serve the rich and the rich need to fear the loss of their supremacy. Thus we find a highly flexible and voluminous market of/with fears in LLD. A whole army of people work to maintain and manage fears. Fears need to be invented, designed, sowed, promptly updated if they become less terrifying and replaced if single of them become irrelevant.
+This socioeconomic order has become a highly fertile ground for the growth, spread and promulgation of fear. The poor must be kept in fear to ensure that they serve the rich, and the rich need to fear the loss of their supremacy. Thus we find the emergence of a vast and highly flexible "fear market" in LLD. A whole army of people work to maintain and manage fears. Fears need to be invented, designed, sowed, and promptly updated if they become less terrifying, and replaced if any become irrelevant.
-This widespread “fear-management” has established structures as well as mindsets which dominate the entity of the LLD. Firstly we see an unrestricted growth of an insurance industry which pretends that just everything someone fears to lose, to become worthless or to be destroyed can be covered through an insurance declaration. Especially in a culture, which maintains a highly unbalanced social structure you always have a rather high amount of people who try to keep their goods (no matter if tangible or intangible, no matter even if they are valuable or protectable for real) insured as effectively as possible, which again, assures a hand full of people loads of money.
+Structures as well as mindsets have emerged within this ubiquitous fear management system which dominate the entity of the LLD. Firstly we see the unrestricted expansion of an insurance industry which cultivates the illusion that every fear on the market can be comprehensively covered by one or another insurance policy. In the unbalanced social structure of this fearful culture there is no shortage of individuals desperately wanting insure their goods (whether these goods are tangible or intangible, no matter if they are even valuable or can be insured at all). This again assures a handful of people loads of money.
-Secondly we have a sophisticated system of surveillance in the LLD. A threatening powerful Ministry of Surveillance even, which monitors successfully all businesses undertaken, controls and charges for every and all sorts of transaction made and prevents all cross-border and cross-disciplinary communication tried to be performed. All residents are registered, profiled and clearly classified, to provide information needed to be known for the effective distribution of fears. As a result of that we have an additional market which blooms – a black-market for profiles. Just another matter of money, whether you will be able to perform your transactions, your businesses, etc. under a rented fake-profile which never will be retraceable to your known identity.
+Secondly, we have a sophisticated system of surveillance in the LLD. A powerful and intimidating Ministry of Surveillance which minutely monitors all business undertaken, controls and charges fees for all sorts of transactions, and prevents any attempt at cross-border or cross-disciplinary communication. All residents are registered, profiled and precisely classified to provide information for the most effective distribution of fears. As a result of this we have another burgeoning market: a black market for identity profiles. Yet another money-driven phenomenon that can allow you to perform business transactions, "illicit" communication, etc. under a fake rented profile which can't be traced back to your known identity.
-As another result, triggered through this permanent intimidation by fears, is the rise of psycho-somatic diseases. There is an increasing amount of inhabitants (in both of the classes) who just can't stand the constant living in fear. Instead of establishing institutions which would support people who – through a system-immanent triggered malfunction – won't be able to partake in a meritocratic society anymore, in the LLD you are simply doomed – or – to at least have a single hope: join the vivid LLD-resistance (either before you get awfully sick or whilst in the middle of it – if you still find the strength for it). The LLD - resistance can be seen as another significant factor which is slow but steady growing in LLD! The more and the longer the order of this land is established, the more inhabitants start to question the system and not only feed, support, follow and obey all orders being established, but fight against it.
+Another effect triggered by this permanent state of intimidation is the rise of psychosomatic diseases. There are increasing numbers of inhabitants (in both of the classes) who just can't endure this constant living in fear. Instead of establishing institutions which would support people who – through a system-immanent triggered malfunction – struggle to participate in a meritocratic society, in the LLD you are simply doomed. Or rather, at least you have one hope: join the lively LLD resistance (if you still find the strength for it either before you get awfully sick or during your illness). The LLD resistance can be seen as another significant phenomenon which is slowly but steadily growing within the LLD itself. The longer this order is perpetuated, the more its inhabitants begin to question the system and even attempt to fight it.
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+----
+This scenario is one of four [[Fear]] scenarios:
+  * [[the shire]]
+  * the land of [[little dictators]]
+  * [[borderless archipelago]]
+  * A-maze, the [[island of ultra-fluid]] exploitations/opportunities