A blueprint for rebuilding the social fabric and reimagining an inclusive society
When we see what’s happening on the streets of Wellington today, it’s an indication that things are changing. The pandemic and its aftermath has cast a dark shadow over the world, and brought to light a number of critical issues society, as a whole, needs to address. Growing inequality, underfunded health services, disinformation, division and doubt are on the rise.
A timely reminder of our shared humanity and the fragile social contract that binds us together AMINZ Fellow Clive Elliott’s recently released book, ‘The Power of Wellbeing’ poses the question: how do we regulate the relationship between the individual and wider society, and our obligations to each other?
“Our underlying social contract needs to be rewritten, so we can rediscover our underlying humanity and see how interconnected we all are. General wellbeing works on a simple premise: if you do good to others, you enrich and benefit yourself – because what is good for one is good for the other,” says Clive.
General wellbeing describes a situation where more, if not most, of the population are relatively healthy, relatively happy and are able to experience a good way of life. More specifically, it is a way of life and philosophy which enables people, regardless of their social status or level of wealth, to flourish and thrive. This thinking perfectly aligns with the 2021 AMINZ Conference theme which has been woven throughout our thinking this past year. “He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.” (What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people).
Clive’s book analyses the way in which wellbeing thinking has grown and evolved over the centuries and how, in a modern setting, it can inform a much wider debate and allow individuals and societies to transition from a mindset of getting by i.e. just surviving and making ends meet, to doing a lot more and for policymakers to both encourage and enable people to shape their own lives in a positive way and genuinely get ahead.
“We seem to be beset with intractable problems at the moment: growing inequality, polarisation, extremism, global warming, and of course the disruption caused by Covid 19. I have tried this to join the dots and make sense of what is happening around the world today.”
He argues we need to take a deep breath and reassess our institutions, systems, and values and re-purpose them in an uncertain post-pandemic world. Clive outlines how we can engineer positive change and build a better world where most of the population can thrive and prosper, while preserving and enhancing the core values of equality, trust, and empathy.
Clive recently dove into these thoughts in Chris Patterson’s ‘The Law Down Under’ Podcast. Have a listen to Episode 8: The Power of Wellbeing – with Clive Elliott QC on Spotify HERE or Apple Podcasts HERE.
Interested in reading this fantastic piece of work? We highly recommend checking it out. Prepare for your thinking to be challenged, in the best way possible.
