“Your own reality—for yourself, not for others.” Thinking for yourself means finding yourself, finding your own reality. Here’s the other problem with Facebook and Twitter and even The New York Times. When you expose yourself to those things, especially in the constant way that people do now—older people as well as younger people—you are continuouslyContinue reading “Dare to be lonely”
Tag Archives: Observaties
How cool is this?
#Norwegian Air
Politieke game-changer?!
In het tv-programma Buitenhof wees commentator Tom-Jan Meeus op de stille big data revolutie die zich het laatste jaar heeft voltrokken in politieke campagnes, en zowel Trump als de Brexiteers zeer heeft geholpen de overwinning te behalen. Het bedrijf Cambridge Analytica (ene Steven Bannon was er bestuurslid) koppelt online voorkeuren van mensen aan psychosociale profielenContinue reading “Politieke game-changer?!”
“If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking” – Haruki Murakami
A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices – William James
5 ingredients for a populist backlash
American populism according to Niall Ferguson. In this recent talk he explains what is needed for ‘peak populism’ to get hold of America, as we see happening now. The context is set by four ingredients: 1) a surge in immigration 2) rising inequality 3) the perception of corruption 4) a financial crisis. Add a fifthContinue reading “5 ingredients for a populist backlash”
Goed doen in een veranderde wereld
Samen met Hanneke Lenkens, directeur Instituut Fondsenwerving, schreef ik dit artikel over hoe goede doelen zouden moeten reageren op de veranderende wereld. Oorspronkelijk gepubliceerd op 20 juli op De DikkeBlauwe.nl Nieuws komt en gaat. Van de verwoestende Syrische burgeroorlog tot de financiële crisis, op een gegeven moment verdwijnt het nieuws van onze radar. Ongeacht deContinue reading “Goed doen in een veranderde wereld”
The Future of Europe
What is to become of Europe, now that it is in the midst of a perfect storm of several crises: recovering from a deep recession, coping with an unprecedented number of asylum seekers and refugees, not being able to protect its borders, terrorist attacks and – as a result – declining trust of its citizens?Continue reading “The Future of Europe”
COP21: the best or the most expensive treaty ever?
Whenever I see big masses of people cheering for a cause, like now with the COP 21 treaty (beware of the lofty rhetoric!), I get suspicious. Combined with my skepticism of top down change (“The president has decided, so it will surely happen”), I wanted to read some stuff criticizing the current climate change approach.Continue reading “COP21: the best or the most expensive treaty ever?”
Paris reste debout!
Als ik de metro uitkom op Place de la Republique valt meteen de mensenmassa op die het 19e eeuwse monument omringt. Er zijn camera’s en veel bodyguards – waarschijnlijk is er een beroemdheid of notabele om een krans te leggen. Als ze weer weg is – ik meende een lange bos rasta’s te zien –Continue reading “Paris reste debout!”
Will Angus Deaton’s thinking now become mainstream?
This week Angus Deaton won the Nobel Prize in Economics for his work on development, welfare and poverty. Although he is optimistic about the world as a whole becoming a better place he very much criticizes the West’s attempts to alleviate poverty in developing countries. He even insists that ‘we’ are currently making things worse.Continue reading “Will Angus Deaton’s thinking now become mainstream?”
The importance of insititutional reform – lessons for Greece
A recent Foreign Affairs article draws a parallel between the Greek crisis and how Latvia recovered from its own crisis. The lesson – one that we learn over and over again – is clear: unless accompanied by substantial institutional reforms, neither austerity nor Grexit will work. I furthermore hope that Tsipras finds the time toContinue reading “The importance of insititutional reform – lessons for Greece”
DANIEL PEPIJN VAN DIJK 