Civilization is a complex, fragile and vulnerable structure that ultimately depends on people's willingness to act in conformity with certain unwritten rules. This does not always filter through to the governing elite, the businesses and the people, all of whom take the cohesiveness of societies and responses to challenges for granted. Analyses of past civilizations disclose that civilizations succumbed to complacency, external changes such as climate factors, and internal strife, mainly about who governed and distributed the wealth.

Unfortunately, our civilization shows signs of all three of these elements. Complacency is widespread. The political leadership target short-term results, neglecting the long-term negative repercussions. This is combined with a worrying tendency among populations to take what has been achieved for granted. The unattractive fact that the outgoing generation has had to strive to get where they are has been put aside and replaced by a feeling that this is our right. External changes such as climate change and resource scarcities are well-known. But, despite a number of declarations and lip service, they fail to be transformed into policies. Internally, a growing gap between those who are rich and powerful and those who are not threatens to break up societies, mainly because the rich and powerful refuse to share what they have, alienating the majority of people who feel they have no chance of upward social mobility.

The past three to four generations plus the one currently in charge crafted a social contract—how to shape and maintain social cohesiveness among people living in the same society. This entailed a reasonable degree of caring for others combined with empathy and understanding of inclusive growth. That kept us going for quite a long time.

The impact of human beings on nature, however, was neglected, with pollution and the loss of diversity being the consequences. It is possible that the twentieth century—should we manage to avoid wiping out our civilization—will be classified as the greatest robbery, in the sense that we plundered nature, disregarding other species and future generations. Perhaps a kinder label might be the century of egoism/selfishness.