© 2019 Larsson Lindman, Björn Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand, Stockholm, Sverige Print: BoD – Books on Demand, Norderstedt, Tyskland ISBN: 9789174637168
Dedication To my Father who taught me about Fear and the use of Power and Violence to Rule and Dominate! To my Mother who taught me the Power of Peace and Kindness! To both of them who taught me love and respect for Nature. To my brothers Per, Gunnar and Gustaf who showed me the effects of Fear and accepted the use of Violence and Oppression. To my sister Carin who saw the cruelties but never dared to oppose the oppression. To my two sons, MĂĽns and Christian who taught me the difficulties and limitations of Parenthood and Love. To my grandsons Magnus and Theodor and all children of the World to whom I leave a World I desired to change for the better, an aspiration, which I have to leave for others to continue.
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Acknowledgements I Writing this book has taken many years of hard work. Countless times, the text has been revised and there is probably not an opinion or line that has not been discussed, reformulated redrafted and reprinted, – many of which – being subsequently rejected. I feel enormous gratitude to all those who have patiently endured my constant trial and tiresome testing of various hypotheses. Writing it has been like a journey through the densest jungle, a sometimes daunting place full of biting insects, stinging plants, menacing animals and disagreeing humans. But every now and then, these have been replaced by scenic meadows with the most beautiful flowers, birds and helpful people. In fact, the tremendous support received, has proved most valuable and it is impossible to cite every individual contributor. Nevertheless, there are a few names that have been crucial for the final compilation of the text. Firstly, I want to mention Francesca and Gunnar Dahl who, almost sixteen years ago, opened their home for my dedication to writing. Without their friendship, generosity and crucial support there would probably never have been any book. The same strong gratitude goes to Mariana Alzamora and her family, who for six years have tirelessly read, questioned and discussed my ideas. Mariana’s personal engagement and contributions have led to some of the book’s most important conclusions. I also want to thank my two sons, Måns and Christian for reading, digesting and offering their supportive comments. To my sister Carin Hartmann for her guidance on young men and their beliefs and preferences. To Marisa, Kerstin and Therese who are organizing women to discuss their experience of men, patriarchy and the future of female influence on politics and the economy. I want to thank my editor Barry Byrne for all his comments and his virtually endless efforts to make the text consistent, trustworthy and readable. My friend Jan Wisén who was the first person to read the full manuscript and his sound advice for some final changes. My gratitude also goes to the book designer, Samir Nezic, who put the text and pictures in order and reshaped the design of the two front and last pages. Finally I thank Desiree Wardle for her necessary extensive proof-reading, polishing the text into its conclusive shine and Annie Walker for her conclusive work on the cover.
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Last, but not the least: to all of you women and men from Manila, Seoul, Amman, New York, Mallorca, Stockholm, San Jose in Costa Rica, Berlin, Saigon, Phnom Penh and many, many more destinations, who have all told me your story and lent me your ear for varying periods of time. You have not always agreed and some of you have been rather negative, but your comments have always been important and always taught me something – about you, my self and the world we share. THANK YOU ALL! Björn
6th of January 2019
Acknowledgements II Dear friends, two nights ago I learned that my book Empowering Women is now censored and banned in the following 16 states: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Qatar, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The reason: “it contains not allowed content"! This happened at a time when the Saudi-American journalist Khashoggi was killed and dismembered inside a Saudi consulate in Turkey, and two female Scandinavian tourists were beheaded in Morocco. These deeds may not be linked to the murderers religion even if some executioners use their religious beliefs as an excuse and cover for their violence. From a distance, the deeds does not look connected, but a common denominator is the executioner’s selfappointed right to use violence when threatened. The excuse may be treason or religious values, but it is essentially all about men fearing loss of their power and dominance. This book openly advocates the increased political and economic influence of women. Not only in specific countries, but everywhere. We now live in a global community, where we all share a common interest in survival. This, however, is not yet accepted
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world-wide; some nations continue to insist on doing things "their old traditional way". Alternatively they’re “just following traditions”, as I was told once when visiting an Arab country. To enable change, I believe many more women must enter onto the political stage. We must leave tribal and national thinking behind. Solving conflicts with violence should belong to history and needs to be replaced with respect for the individual and Nature, with laws based on international agreements and United Nations’ Declaration of Human Rights. I do not know for sure if this is the main reason why my text has drawn such an aggressive and decisive response. Perhaps there are passages in the book that infuriate certain individuals. I can understand how the idea of dismantling patriarchy might cause fear and rejection among some men in some countries. However, for me, as a free-thinking human, as one who honors the value of equality in total; gender equality, freedom of speech, free elections, the right to vote, the right to education, fair trials and individual protection by universal laws for everyone, the time for change has come. Using violence to solve conflicts is an old male prerogative that has no place in contemporary societies. To all men and all women who may fear change, I say this: it is already happening! Men and patriarchy are losing influence. Moreover, this is both essential and urgent. Some may try to temporarily hinder change but it cannot be stopped. If we men are to avoid becoming irrelevant and obsolete, we have to change our values and start supporting change by supporting women. We all need to learn how to live with this new paradigm. If you feel like supporting the movement http://empoweringwomen.world, please pass this link on to friend and foe alike! Serving the future, all humankind, Nature and, above all, our grandchildren and the coming generations, Yours Björn Larsson Lindman
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Table of Content Part 1 Women´s Empowerment Reasons, Experience and Ideas
15
INTRODUCTION
16
Chapter 1 Power – A background
22
Today
Part 2 The Origin Of Power Chapter 2 Aspects of Power – a new approach
30
33 34
Summary
34
Power and Evolution
34
Our Quest for Power
35
Power and Human Biology
36
Chapter 3 Power – A Philosophical and Theoretical Background
42
Summary
42
Old Definitions of Power – a Background
44
Power and Consciousness
54
The Roots of Conflicts
56
Part 3 Power - New Definitions Chapter 4 Re-defining Power – A Discussion
61 62
Summary
62
New Definitions of Power
66
Part 4 Power in Action Chapter 5 Power, Needs, Instincts, Drives, Desires and Motivation
71 72
Summary
72
Power and Basic Needs
73
Power and Derived Needs
74
Power and Freedom, Individual and Group
75
Power, Violence and Peace Work
76
Power over Life and Death
76
9
Power and Sexuality
77
Sexeconomy and Romanticism
81
Chapter 6 Power and Personal Assets Summary
83
Personal Assets
84
Erotic Assets and Erotic Power
85
Male Sexual Deficit (MSD)
88
Female Intimacy Deficiency (FID)
91
Part 5 Gender, Power, Values, Language and Change Chapter 7 Power, Values and Change
93 94
Summary
94
Basic Problems
94
Chapter 8 Power - Female Values and Female Attitudes
97
Summary
97
Female Values (1)
97
Female Values (2)
100
Female Values (3)
102
Power and Female Values (4)
103
Chapter 9 Power - Male Values and Masculine Attitudes
104
Summary
104
Power and Male Values
104
Violence and Death
110
Sexuality
113
Competition and Status
117
Chapter 10 Power, Values and Traditions
10
83
119
Summary
119
Basic Values
119
World Values Surveys: Inglehart–Welzel Global Cultural Value Map
121
How Cultures Vary
122
Aspirations to Democracy
123
Empowerment of Citizens
123
Globalization and Converging Values
123
Gender Equality Values
124
Power and Values
124
Values and Gender – and the Distribution of Power
125
Chapter 11 Power and Language
127
Summary
127
Power, Gender War and Language
127
Part 6 Democracy, Autocracy and Leadership Chapter 12 Traditional (male) power play
131 132
Summary
132
The Desire and the Will to Power
133
Power Struggle in Nature
134
The Psychology of Power
136
The Magic of Power
138
Power and Responsibility
140
Chapter 13 The Law of Great Power
141
Summary
141
The Law of Great Power
143
Gaming for Power in Larger Contexts
147
Chapter 14 Traditional Power Struggle
148
Summary
148
Traditional (Male) Rules for Successful Power Struggle
150
Men, Power-hunger and Democracy
155
Part 7 Archo-Exousiomania: The Power Obsessed Personality Chapter 15 Power and Psychopathology: The Power-Obsessed Personality
159 160
Summary
160
Diagnosing Excessive Hunger for Power and Domination
161
Chapter 16 Tools for Analyzing and Diagnosing the Power-Obsessed Personality
163
Summary
163
ArEx: An Obsession with Money and Domination
164
Chapter 17 Donald Trump, his voters and contemporary America - A case study Summary
173 173
11
The Current State of Trump’s leadership
175
Background
177
Trump’s Voters
182
Trump’s War on Media
184
The Future
185
Part 8 Patriarchy and The Exercise of Power Chapter 18 Power and Leadership
188
Summary
188
Building Power
188
Exercising Power - Building Patriarchy through Traditional Male Domination
190
Power and Cooperation
195
Choosing Leaders
197
Chapter 19 Male Power and Violence
204
Summary
204
Basic Violence
204
Evolution and Violence
207
Chapter 20 Leaders on War, Nuclear Arms and the use of Violence
Part 9 Women’s Power and Leadership Chapter 21 Women’s Power in History
208
211 212
Summary
212
Changing Gender Power Structures
216
Women’s Attitudes to Power, Domination and Control
217
Chapter 22 Women’s Power and Leadership
12
187
222
Summary
222
Introducing Female Leadership
224
The Demonization of Women
225
Women's Leadership: Disabling Patriarchy
227
Women as Leaders – an example
229
Executing Leadership
231
Leadership and Managerial Styles
235
A Perfect Society
237
Signs of a well-functioning society Chapter 23 Male Attitudes to Women's Power Summary
Part 10 Globalization and the Future of Society Introduction to Globalization Chapter 24 Globalization and Global Political Leadership
238 240 240
243 244 245
Summary
245
Globalization - A New Concept
245
The History of Globalization
246
Global Companies and Organizations
247
Future Global Leadership
250
Conscious Global Leadership
251
Chapter 25 Saving the Globe
252
Summary
252
A New Global Governance
253
Implementing Changes
253
New Screening Mechanisms
255
The Global Council of Women
256
Part 11 Conclusions
259
Contemplating the Present and the Future
260
Final note
262
Clinical terms
263
Bibliography
265
About the Author
271
Books and Publications
274
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14
Part
1
Women´s Empowerment Reasons, Experience and Ideas
15
INTRODUCTION The Doomsday Clock has been hanging on a wall in the office of the Chicago-based Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists since 1947. From the very beginning, it represented the threat of a global nuclear war. Since 2007 it has also reflected the risks posed by climate change and new developments in life sciences and technology, which could inflict irrevocable harm on Nature and Humanity. The clock is monitored by the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin, who, in turn, are advised by the Governing Board and the Board of Sponsors, including 18 Nobel Laureates. The closer they set the Doomsday Clock to midnight, the closer the scientists believe the World is heading for a global disaster. This ominous clock was set to three minutes to midnight on January 2015 due to “unchecked climate change, global nuclear weapons modernization and outsized weapons arsenals.” The Board changed this setting in January 2018 by moving it to two minutes to midnight. This setting was retained 24 of January 2019 (YouTube, 2019) The idea that “the end is near” has haunted man since the dawn of humankind and the Internet is full of Doomsday predictions. Historically, we have seen Doomsday as something coming from the outside, such as a comet or an act of God’s wrath. Today, for the first time, humans have created a possible catastrophe by our own will and actions. Our ingenuity has caught up with us, and our limitless greed – fed by fear and innate aggression – thereby manifesting itself in self-destructive behavior. Just like a herd of elephants, destroying the land they feed from. We overfish the seas and empty rivers and lakes for irrigation. In deed, we leave behind a poisonous legacy for future generations to tackle: mountains of garbage, deserts, undrinkable water and toxic soils. In a vain effort to protect ourselves, we create weapons of immeasurable potency, which, if used, will destroy not only the enemy but also our possibility of survival. Morally, passive scientists assist global companies in their quest for more money and power. Oblivious to the consequences, they tear apart nature, never fully appreciating that it has taken Evolution more than half a billion years to arrive at its present magnificence. Even the Atomic Scientists seem paralyzed by the fear of their Doomsday Clock.
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