Pushed Beyond Limits

Image: David Suzuki somewhere, sometime. I met him in Kyoto, Japan in 1990, along with (among others) Ecotopia author Ernest Callenbach, deep ecology founder Arne Naess, tech critic Jerry Mander, ecofeminist Charlene Spretnak, economist/futurist Hazel Henderson, Rainforest Action Network founder Randy Hayes, polymath David Kubiak, and physicist/author/systems-theorist Fritjof Capra, at whose Elmwood Institute’s Kyoto office I was working. By that point, I was involuntarily volunteering, but with free rent, and in an amazing location. Our Tokyo real-estate-mogul-sponsor had gone bankrupt almost as we were opening the doors on our restored, Taisho-era office/residence on beautiful Yoshida-yama, facing Daimonji to the east, in the autumn of 1989. This was when the very large Tokyo real estate price-bubble burst. The "Renewing the Earth" conference, our mogul-sponsor’s swan song, organized by his NGO, the Center for Global Action, was held in Kyoto, Japan, in 1990. Elmwood Japan’s budget was about zero after that, but our rent was paid until 1992 or so. Right across the street from The Temple of the Silver Pavilion and the Philosopher’s Walk, a quiet path running south to the vast, moss-covered Nanzen-ji temple complex. Anyway, Suzuki was laid back, down-to-earth for a celebrity/scholar of his stature.

In 2025, the world faces deep divisions, driven by psycho-socio-political tensions and environmental collapse, problems of a systemic, even paradigmatic, nature. Societies are at risk of breaking down, and authoritarian regimes are emerging, fueled by fear and disorder, as climate disasters like heatwaves, droughts, and floods disproportionately harm the poor and embolden the powerful. Despite this grim outlook, there remains hope for humanity through self-awareness and collective action.

The collective unconscious, a concept from Jungian psychology, refers to shared instincts and archetypes that influence human behavior. Modern society, focused on material wealth, often suppresses these forces. When rationality weakens, destructive impulses, known as the Shadow, surface. In the United States, this is seen in divisive political rhetoric, expanding surveillance systems like the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and growing nationalism amid economic inequality. These trends reflect a broader crisis where individuals lose their sense of self to group ideologies, eroding personal autonomy.

The swing between extremes, known as enantiodromia, fuels this instability. In the U.S., theocratic nationalism clashes with liberal globalism, each intensifying the other. A prominent leader, often compared to historical figures known for chaos, amplifies division with inflammatory language, calling opponents “vermin” or “traitors.” This rhetoric fosters a mass delusion, where people over-identify with a figure and lose critical thinking, as psychologist Erich Fromm described. Such dynamics make societies fragile, as individuals struggle to maintain independent thought.

This pattern is not unique to the U.S. Countries like Russia, Hungary, and Turkey show similar trends, with nationalist movements and authoritarian leadership reacting to globalization and environmental pressures. These reflect a broader psychological crisis, where fear and resentment overpower individual reasoning, pushing societies toward conflict and instability. Social contagion, the spread of ideas and emotions through groups, accelerates this decline. Human brains are wired to mimic emotions like fear or anger, a process driven by mirror neurons and the limbic system, as research by Rizzolatti and Craighero (2004) shows. Social media intensifies this, with studies indicating negative emotions spread faster than neutral ones (Brady et al., 2017). Dehumanizing language and public spectacles, like promoting gun giveaways while cutting social programs, stir collective anger, aligning with Gustave Le Bon’s concept of crowd behavior and Émile Durkheim’s idea of collective effervescence.

Technology, particularly artificial intelligence, exacerbates these issues. AI-generated content, including fake articles and scripted online personas, distorts truth and undermines public discourse. Corporations use AI to promote false narratives about sustainability, a practice known as greenwashing, while environmental degradation continues. This manipulation obscures accountability, turning complex crises into oversimplified social media debates and eroding trust in shared values.

Cruelty has become normalized in many societies. Small acts, like a person reserving a seat with a bag while ignoring an elderly woman, mirror broader political strategies that prioritize self-interest. Policies that increase national debt to benefit the wealthy while cutting healthcare access turn national pride into exclusion. Some religious groups, defending their chosen leaders, channel faith into resentment, using nostalgia to justify control, and reflecting a society increasingly detached from empathy and mutual responsibility.

Like actor George Takei, David Suzuki* (born in Canada) was interned as a child during World War II due to his Japanese ancestry, a traumatic experience that shaped his perspective. Despite this, he became a distinguished geneticist and host of the documentary series The Nature of Things, advocating for environmental stewardship. In 2025, at 89, Suzuki expressed profound grief over humanity’s failure to protect the natural world, stating that the reelection of a climate-skeptic leader felt like “a dagger to his heart.” His sorrow for Mother Nature and all life resonates globally, urging collective mourning for the planet’s decline and a renewed commitment to action. Suzuki’s warning is stark: humanity has crossed seven of nine planetary boundaries, critical thresholds for Earth’s ecosystems. A global temperature rise of three degrees Celsius is likely, exceeding the 1.5-degree limit scientists deem safe. Decades of international climate talks have failed to curb emissions, as economic systems prioritize growth over essentials like clean air, water, and soil. Suzuki argues that governments are unlikely to provide solutions, urging communities to prepare for disasters—heatwaves, droughts, floods—that will disrupt food, water, and energy supplies.

These environmental crises also trigger psychological responses. Fear of resource scarcity amplifies divisive impulses, creating fertile ground for authoritarianism. A major disaster, like a hurricane devastating cities or a drought crippling agriculture, could lead to emergency measures, including martial law or expanded surveillance through systems like DOGE. Immigration enforcement tools, such as drones or data purges, could be repurposed to control populations during crises, reducing individuals to mere components of a system. This loss of agency aligns with the concept of the “mass man,” where personal identity is subsumed by collective control.

As crises intensify, social divisions will likely deepen. Some groups may interpret disasters as divine punishment, targeting minorities as scapegoats. Progressive efforts to enact reforms could provoke backlash, further polarizing societies. Governments may respond with decrees that entrench extreme policies, silencing dissent and targeting vulnerable groups like immigrants and the poor. Suzuki’s critique of systems that neglect nature suggests these policies will exacerbate societal fractures, prioritizing control over collective well-being.

The poor will bear the brunt of these crises. Heatwaves, floods, and resource shortages will disproportionately affect those with the least, while the wealthy secure access to essentials. Suzuki’s criticism of billionaires, who accumulate wealth as a form of ego, underscores this inequity. An economy that celebrates excess while allowing the vulnerable to suffer reflects a moral failure, deepening societal and psychological divides.

This crisis extends beyond borders. In Russia, Hungary, and Turkey, leaders could exploit environmental disasters to consolidate power. Droughts in Russia’s agricultural regions or floods in Turkey’s coastal areas might justify expanded surveillance or emergency powers, mirroring trends in the U.S. Social contagion, amplified by technology, spreads nationalist narratives globally, synchronizing behaviors across cultures, as research by Konvalinka et al. (2011) suggests. Policies like voter ID laws, gerrymandering, and restrictive bans reinforce a worldview where only certain groups are valued, marginalizing others.

The likelihood of societal breakdown and authoritarian regimes is significant, perhaps a 65% chance within the next decade, and higher if disasters intensify. Governments, overwhelmed by crises, may face public demands for order, leading to policies that resemble police states. In the U.S., measures like mass deportations or crackdowns on dissent signal this trajectory. Globally, leaders may use environmental crises to suppress opposition and consolidate power, leaving the poor as the primary victims while resources flow to the elite.

Despite these challenges, there is potential for hope. Human psychology offers pathways to resist these trends. Individuation, the process of integrating unconscious impulses to reclaim personal autonomy, can counter the pull of collective ideologies. Social contagion, while often negative, can also spread positive norms like empathy and cooperation. Community campaigns for environmental and social justice can foster resilience, leveraging the same neural pathways that spread fear to promote unity.

Suzuki’s call to “hunker down” emphasizes practical action. Communities must assess their resources—water, food, medical supplies—and prepare for disruptions. This proactive stance counters the despair of systemic failure. Education and media literacy can combat disinformation, helping individuals discern truth from manipulation. Technology, if used transparently, could amplify cooperative efforts, connecting communities to share solutions. Historical patterns suggest that periods of chaos often precede renewal, offering a chance to rebuild systems that prioritize environmental and social health.

The world in 2025 stands at a critical juncture, shaped by psychological divisions, environmental collapse, and systemic inequities. The risk of societal breakdown and authoritarianism is high, with the poor facing the worst consequences as crises empower the ruthless. Near the end of his life, Suzuki’s lifelong dedication to nature should inspire millions of Canadians—yea, North Americans—to action. His grief for the planet should compel us to confront and rectify our failures. Through individual awareness, community preparation, and collective empathy, there remains a chance to build a future where justice and resilience prevail over division and despair.

*Suzuki earned a PhD in zoology from the University of Chicago in 1961, and was a professor in the genetics department at the University of British Columbia from 1963 until his retirement in 2001. A longtime activist to reverse global climate change, Suzuki co-founded the David Suzuki Foundation in 1990, to work "to find ways for society to live in balance with the natural world that does sustain us." Suzuki was awarded the Right Livelihood Award in 2009. His 2011 book The Legacy won the Nautilus Book Award. He is a Companion of the Order of Canada. In 2004, Suzuki ranked fifth on the list of final nominees in a CBC television series that asked viewers to select The Greatest Canadian of all time. In October 2022, Suzuki announced his retirement from The Nature of Things series in spring 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Suzuki