The concept of “swarm intelligence” has been the focus of attention quite often lately. The idea is that we have a large group of individuals, each following some very simple rules, and the result is something very interesting that none of them may understand or even intend. For example, with birds, a few simple rules like “keep your distance from the nearest bird” are enough to create amazing images in the sky.
I realized this during yesterday’s Jungmann National Academy seminar led by Peter Robejšek. His four rules are as follows:
- Slow is better than fast
- Local is better than global
- Face to face is better than online
- Own is better than foreign owned
If the swarm is large enough, it will bring more fundamental changes to national life than any political activity.
But they are also competing swarm intelligences.
For example, a libertarian has these simple principles:
- Always do what makes the most financial profit.
- Always proceed with maximum efficiency
Such a swarm moves the balance in a completely different direction.
Or the slogan “alternatives”:
- Find out what the mainstream media says
- Do the exact opposite
- Constantly lecture other people about it, or suggest they are wrong.
The result is a shattering of national belonging that no bad guy could have planned.
Or the Liberal Democrat swarm. Even there, individuals apply simple rules:
- Constantly find out what the “trendsetters” are saying.
- Fully adapt your opinions, actions and feelings to that.
- If you have a choice, act in a way that distinguishes you from the majority of society
- Signal your “virtue”.
And maybe there are other flocks. And in the meantime, plenty of people who don’t follow such simple rules. Rather, they act pragmatically and choose what’s handy or convenient at the moment.
The result of all these forces is the direction of the country and the creation of power relations.