In development work we think we have to change peoples minds for them to do good things. We use the words 'sensitise', 'capacity build', and 'behavior change'. However, I am coming more and more to the realisation that people know what do do, and they know what is right and wrong, but they just don't do it. This idea may not be new to many, and many of you would say the reasons for this are far too complex for us to understand. Some may also say it is because humans are inherently lazy or selfish. What I wish to present to you here is a simple thesis, not complex and judgemental of the human condition.
It has to do with majority rule through the pathway to Democracy and minority rule through representation by the Media. I am a fan of democracy don't get me wrong, it is one of the final frontiers of allowing the individual to participate in the collective decision making of a community or state. It however, like any system has it weaknesses. In Australia, with an increasingly more diverse population of nationalities, sexual orientation, languages, histories and faiths (which I also am a fan of) it is becoming increasingly more difficult for the established political parties to stay relevant to the 'majority'. But no matter how they sell it the political parties wish to be in power and will win votes no matter how they can. And when they are in power they may try govern for most of us but are at the whim of a few, until the next election that is.
One of those whims are the big media giants of the world, more infamous of late being corporations such as Newscorp Ltd. Whether it be a tactic or not the media find stories that are sensational and often driven by a few powerful individuals, or for the greatest sales. They whip up scare campaigns of foreigners invading our shores in boats, of the need to support and invade other countries, and that we can believe climate change isn't really happening. Such issues not driven by fact but emotion results in an 'us and them' mentality. That is the debate comes from the extremes and thus polarises and politicises any discussion of the issue.
I have found however in my meetings with people from all walks of life that their opinions are not so extreme. They appreciate the compassion and understanding we should have for people fleeing persecution. They appreciate we need to think about our role in the world and for our responsibilities to future generations, by addressing such things as climate change. However, many of them stay silent. The reason is that they feel their views and values are of the minority. Studies have shown that this is not the case. They are the majority however stay silent due to the extreme sides the media portrays. As politicians follow suit they also feel uncomfortable when it comes to elections on who to vote for. Yes, in my experience both left and right of politics!
So my thesis is this; the majority of people know what is right and wrong and they know what to do. They do not act on this because they feel they are in the minority. This dynamic results in the extreme sides ruling fueled by the media debate at the expense of majority values. Therefore, our role as development and community advocacy practitioners is not to change peoples minds or to sensitise them but to let them know they are not alone. That their views actually represent the majority, and it is ok to know and do what is right. We must shine a light on the human compassion that already exists within our communities and that solutions are to be found in the masses and not of the few.
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