“History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.” Mark Twain Let´s suppose that we are involved in the experiment of a mad social scientist. He or she finds two pre-modern tribes in the Amazon rain forest situated close to each other. The scientist then provides technology for one of these tribes, which is eager to … More What will the 21st century be about? by Bouke S. Nagel 2014-09-15
One thing I do know: Never, on this Earth, was the relation of man to man long carried on by Cash-payment alone. If, at any time, a philosophy of Laissez-faire, Competition and Supply-and-demand, start up as the exponent of human relations, expect that it will soon end. Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present, 1843 After the … More The Culture Conundrum by Bouke S. Nagel 2014-03-10
“What fair is foul and foul is fair”Shakespeare, Macbeth Over the past weeks OVI-Magazine published several articles about the situation on our continent. Christos Mouzeviris puts his hope in forming a European block. Dr. Anis H. Bajrektarevic argues that we need to look at the wisdom that can be found in the Lisbon Agenda. And … More Chances are that Europe will resemble Italy in the foreseeable future by Bouke S. Nagel 2013-08-18
Recently, OVI-contributor Christos Mouzeviris started a discussion about the supposed role of generations in regard to the financial crisis. I would like to join the debate by presenting this article in which I would like to explore the experiences of a generation born between 1930-1950. Although I do not agree with every decision that was … More What is left to believe in? by Bouke S. Nagel 2013-01-09
Over the past years many books, movies and documentaries appeared about the financial crisis and the state of contemporary society in the West. I am thinking of writers and commentators like Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Michael Lewis and Jim Rogers as well as movies and documentaries such as The Company Men, Wall Street II, Margin Call, … More The Subsidy Society by Bouke S. Nagel 2012-11-28
Suppose that one day a stranger knocks on your door. He or she shows you a legal document which resembles a novel. You open the booklet and look at legal mambo jumbo of which you comprehend nothing. Then, the stranger requests your signature in the name of everlasting peace on earth. You take his pen … More The role of politicians in government by Bouke S. Nagel 2011-11-14
This year, Bas Heijne, a writer for Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad, ventured deep into populist territory and wrote a book about it called “Do we need to love one another?” At the beginning of his book he states that there is something puzzling about the problems in our world that cannot easily be understood or … More Star Trek, Star Wars and populism by Bouke S. Nagel 2011-07-24
A few years ago I met a grandmother in the small town of Davos in Switzerland. She, like me, enjoyed a debate during the World Economic Forum of 2009. When she noticed that I was able to produce some sentences in Swiss German she decided that I was trustworthy enough to engage in small talk. … More The Buddha complex by Bouke S. Nagel 2011-06-22
The Ovi 