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Wars, military power 'less fashionable' than ever, survey reports
by Global Good News staff writer

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19 January 2013

In a sign of changing global awareness, military power, armed conflict, and throwing around large sums of money have 'never been less fashionable'. This is according to Monocle magazine's annual 'Global Soft Power' survey.

The survey ranks nations in terms of their 'soft power'; it looks at each nation's standard of government; diplomatic infrastructure; cultural output; capacity for education; and appeal to business.

According to Dr Peter Warburton, Chair of Maharishi Foundation UK, the organization teaching the Transcendental Meditation programme throughout the nation, the survey is measuring the positive influence a nation has in the world.

Tyler Brûlé, Monocle's editor-in-chief, was quoted in Britain's The Independent as saying:

'We're in a time, right now, where, more than ever, it's not particularly fashionable to go out and write massive cheques to get your way in the world. Armed conflict has never been less fashionable, and if you're able to effect change because you present yourself as an attractive nation to befriend and engage with, that can only be positive.'

Great Britain came out #1 in the world in Monocle's most recent soft power rankings, near the end of 2012. So what makes Britain excel on these measures?

Dr Warburton said, 'In the past year there have been many things that have happened in the UK which have been enjoyed globally. One is the Olympics in London which had a hugely positive atmosphere to the whole thing, a real feeling of unity, of nations working together.'

This ranking as the most powerful nation in terms of positive influence is a big departure from the Britain of the past.

Dr Warburton noted that the shift began when Gordon Brown became Prime Minister in 2007. 'He announced immediately to the world that the old approach of Britain to divide and rule the world, to look after just its own interests, was over. Now we work on the level of unity. Now we work on the basis of friendship with all nations on projects of common interest.'

Growing unity and other positive elements both globally and in national life reflect diminishing social stress and the rise of a more peaceful, coherent quality in collective consciousness, Dr Warburton commented. Contributing substantially to this effect is the increasing popularity of Transcendental Meditation and its advanced programmes in many parts of the world, including in the UK; especially the participation of large groups of people practising these peace-creating technologies of consciousness.

See related article: Was 2012 the best year for Great Britain? Changing trends reflect Transcendental Meditation groups' coherence, teachers say

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