Reconstructing Society

Culturally Ireland is at a dead end , this is not about the music or the films or the traditional aspects of what people think of Ireland when they hear culture here in Ireland. We are talking about the norms and values here that Irish people have clung to for hundreds of years as a way of life and are scared rigid that they should change some great misfortune should befall them.

Basics

Norms are the accepted way of behaving in a particular social situation and values are the beliefs that drive these behaviours. Often these are influenced by family or outside forces. Eg. Britian occuping Ireland for 800 odd years saw people develop this want of houses , "we must own property" .

How the System Currently Works

In any organisation whether it be a political or corporate or otherwise, they tend to attract people of a similar mindset ending up with cliques or similar like minded people. Place this into a hierarchy of society and those with the most resources end up dominating the political or social landscape. At the moment the bankers, property developers and others with financial clout own the arses of most of the general populace. Capitalism has encouraged behavioural normalisation where materialism has become a value and the accumulation of wealth is seeing as being the main driving force behind our very existence. These small groups of people at the top of the hierarchy are the ones whom are dictating the pace of society and its development . As to the apathy of the people (a phrase I have used more than once) this stems from being too comfortable and not liking change. Change interrupts their little routines.

What Im Proposing
A complete change of the system but that may not happen with our generation but should start with the next generation. David Knott a researcher in London showed that there was a significant benefit in encouraging children to have positive values if they are taught early . Two of these are important

-Educational Achievement

Education is the one way that definitively creates employment, contributes to the lubricating of the wheels and cogs of societies and ensures that there are less reasons for the those in society to be on the peripheral as they are afforded more and more opportunity to develop. Education could also take a more holistic approach to children. Teach them more about their emotions, that of others.

-Personal Responsibility

We take responsibility for our mistakes and are accountable to both ourselves and each other.

Its going to be hard to tackle the current apathy that is present but we can install the building blocks of a better future through change. Create more community based programmes, educational programmes and opportunities. Create a curiosity in the world.

We will teach society with better norms and values that drive people to help one and other, teach them to be self autonomous and not be servile.
Below are the links that act as a reference
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_change

http://humanresources.about.com/od/o...ure_change.htm

http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkott...ional-culture/

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.g...ure_change.pdf