Evelin Lindner[1]
Lindner, E. (2020). From humiliation to dignity: For a future of global solidarity. The coronavirus pandemic as opportunity in the midst of suffering. InterViews: An Interdisciplinary Journal in Social Sciences, 7(1), pp. 30-50. https://doi.org/10.36061/IV.7.1.20.30.50
Abstract
Where do we stand, as humankind? We have dug ourselves into a multitude of perilous crises, both despite and because of what we call progress or economic growth. In service of profit, we practice strategies of development that shred our social fabric while simultaneously plundering our planet, fuelling a toxic combination of sociocide and ecocide that leads to intractable cycles of systemic humiliation. The coronavirus pandemic is one manifestation of this dire predicament. At the same time, there are also immense windows of opportunity waiting for us to use. The pandemic reminds us that we can and must change: change quickly and for the better. Unfortunately, instead of recognising the depth of the crises at hand and grasping the historic opportunities to exit, it seems that too many may choose to stay short-sighted and myopic. Consequently, humanity risks missing a momentous opportunity that could ultimately save countless generations of life on this planet. This article offers reflections on the predicament we as humankind face, as well as a way forward, a way that transforms debilitating humiliation into life-giving dignity. Hopefully, it works as a wake-up call for us to answer the following question together: How must we, humankind, arrange our affairs on this planet so that dignified life will be possible in the long term?
Keywords: dignity, humiliation, coronavirus, ecocide, sociocide, homo amans
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[1] Evelin Gerda Lindner, a German-Norwegian medical doctor and psychologist, is the founding president of Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies (www.humiliationstudies.org) and co-founder of the World Dignity University Initiative (www.worlddignityuniversity.org). She is widely known for her theory of humiliation and is a staunch advocate for human dignity. Correspondence regarding this article must be directed to: e.g.lindner@psykologi.uio.no