Nayef Al-Rodhan: Trending quotes (page 4)

“In the “stealth era,” battlefield strength might just be dictated by the level of stealth or invisibility technology at the disposal of combatants. This is likely to trigger a scientific and technological race, as well as provide new platforms for countries to enhance their prestige domestically and internationally.”

Nayef Al-Rodhan

Cloaks of Invisibility: The Latest Frontier in Military Technology http://journal.georgetown.edu/2014/03/06/cloaks-of-invisibility-the-latest-frontier-in-military-technology-by-nayef-al-rodhan/ - Georgetown Journal, March 2014

Country

“A good governance paradigm that limits excesses of human nature and ensures an atmosphere of happiness and productivity by promoting reason and dignity is required.”

Nayef Al-Rodhan

Source: Sustainable History and the Dignity of Man (2009), p.27

Nature , Happiness

“The history of human civilisation is a history of mutual borrowings.”

Nayef Al-Rodhan

Source: Sustainable History and the Dignity of Man (2009), p.28

History

“Harmonious interstate relations will be guided by the paradigm of Symbiotic Realism that stresses the importance of absolute rather than relative gains.”

Nayef Al-Rodhan

Source: Sustainable History and the Dignity of Man (2009), p.28

“Security, stability and prosperity will depend on the application of the multi-sum security principle that captures the multi-dimensional aspects of security and insists on the centrality of global justice for lasting security.”

Nayef Al-Rodhan

Source: Sustainable History and the Dignity of Man (2009), p.28

Justice , Dependency

“All policies should be packaged with full awareness of the limitation of human nature (amorality, emotionality and egoism) in both the short- and the long-term.”

Nayef Al-Rodhan

Source: Emotional amoral egoism (2008), p.204

Nature

“Humankind is conceived as primarily motivated by neurochemically mediated emotions resulting from genetic make-up and environmental influences, employing reason and engaging in conscious reflection only occasionally.”

Nayef Al-Rodhan

Source: Emotional amoral egoism (2008), p.65

Motivation

“Further, humanity must never be complacent about the virtues of human nature. Therefore, everything must be done at all levels to prevent alienation, inequality, deprivation, fear, injustice, anarchy and the loss of the rule of law. History has shown repeatedly that humankind is capable of unthinkable brutality and injustice. This is often a result of what I call fear(survival)-induced pre-emptive aggression, which may occur no matter how calm the situation appears, although it is not necessarily inevitable. Moreover, where there is injustice that is perceived as posing a threat to survival, humankind will do whatever necessary to survive and be free. In such instances, might (military or otherwise) may not prevail or be the optimal solution.”

Nayef Al-Rodhan

Source: Emotional amoral egoism (2008), pp.16-17

Fear , Law , History , Optimism

“Our new concept of just power argues that the promotion of justice should be the aim of modern statecraft, not for altruistic reasons, but because it is the only sustainable way that states can promote progress and stability in a globalised world.”

Nayef Al-Rodhan

Source: Neo-statecraft and Meta-geopolitics (2009), p.13

World , Justice , Way

“In my view, most human beings are innately neither moral nor immoral but rather amoral. They are driven by emotional self-interest and have the potential to be either moral or immoral, depending on what their self-interest dictates, and will be influenced in their choices by emotions and socio-cultural contexts. Circumstances will determine the survival value of humankind’s moral compass in that being highly moral in an immoral environment may be detrimental to one’s survival and vice versa. Indeed, our neuronal architecture is pre-programmed to seek gratification and feel good regardless of the reason. All apparently altruistic behaviour serves self-interest at some level.”

Nayef Al-Rodhan

Source: Emotional amoral egoism (2008), p.16

Feeling , Dependency

“Civilisational triumph is important because if it is not actively sought, conflictual relations between members of geo-cultural domains may become a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

Nayef Al-Rodhan

Source: Sustainable History and the Dignity of Man (2009), p.219

“Cultural and ethnic diversity benefit humanity’s future, survival, strength and excellence, promoting what I call cultural vigour, similar to the way in which molecular and genetic diversity promote “hybrid vigor” in nature and thus strength, resilience and a higher potential for a problem-free future.”

Nayef Al-Rodhan

The Geopolitics of Culture: Five Substrates, (2014)

Way , Nature , Problem , Future

“The notion of innate knowledge (including moral knowledge) is rejected, but that of moral sensitivities is accepted.”

Nayef Al-Rodhan

Source: Sustainable History and the Dignity of Man (2009), p.108

Knowledge

“3D printing is going to transform our societies, our freedoms and our sense of security.”

Nayef Al-Rodhan

Printing the Future? http://www.isn.ethz.ch/Digital-Library/Articles/Detail/?ots591=4888caa0-b3db-1461-98b9-e20e7b9c13d4&lng=en&id=172924 - ISN ETH Zurich, November 2013

Sense , Freedom

“We are therefore driven by both basic survival instincts and rational thought.”

Nayef Al-Rodhan

Source: Emotional amoral egoism (2008), p.15