Systemic Properties
The theory of great systems received a powerful impetus in the second half of the last century. It deals with formations composed of a considerable number of elements with varying properties but somehow or another interrelating. An example of a big system is a society or its components. Scientists believe that big system characteristics are marked by certain properties, primarily that knowing well the characteristics of separate elements does not provide a complete or accurate picture of the system as a whole. In other words, a combination of numerous elements leads to the emergence of unexpected and unpredictable systemic characteristics, the so-called emergent properties.
This regularity is especially vividly manifest in large social systems with the personality being their element. One of the manifestations of emergent properties can be cruelly displayed by a crowd consisting of people most of which, individually, would never even think of acting like that. And so characteristics found in separate individuals are one thing and those in a large group of people is an altogether different story. Likewise, there is no coincidence in Ukrainians being said to possess two polarized reputations; one of being kind-hearted, cordial, sensitive people, and the other best described by the phrase “Honta is in Uman” [where the Cossack chieftain massacred the inhabitants].
Many of our current failures are explained, of course, by those in power failing to pay enough attention to the emergent properties of Ukrainian society. Simultaneously its elements — separate personalities — are overstated. Generally speaking, Ukrainians do not judge themselves negatively or even with sufficient criticism. Suffice it to listen to all those comparing our industry, erudition, talent, resourcefulness with those anywhere in the West, say, with Europeans and Americans. Our inferences are always in our own favor, and rather strictly so. Those in the West are “primitive” and “shortsighted pedants,” “formalists,” and “narrowly educated.” The apparent fact that we do not go there to help them, but vice versa, is totally ignored when making such comparisons.
Such comparisons often become widespread legends. One has it that “our programmers are the best in the world,” compared, say, to their stupid German colleagues, those that have computerized all of Germany (and forget about Ukraine). And the Americans are no better — and no one bothers to ask oneself why all those world- renowned computer systems, software, the Internet, and so many other useful things were made by our stupid colleagues, not by us. Why do we remain consumers as well as critics lashing out at something as unreachable for us as outer space: the virtual computer world created in the West?
Another legend being stubbornly upheld — and a dangerous one — relates to the educational system. In Ukraine, one and all, parents and bureaucrats at the Ministry of Education, are convinced that our education is the best in the world, even with all its shortcomings. Not so long ago, the International Center for Public Policy Studies published the results of several polls held in different regions of Ukraine. Most of the respondents — teachers, parents, and students — believed that the kind of knowledge being provided was in full conformity with modern requirements. In fact, 80% of the respondents felt certain that the national educational level is not lower than that in Western Europe. Many opined that it is even higher. The only exception was Lviv where most respondents expressed their dissatisfaction. This explains why the residents there are so interested in the municipal schooling reform.
All told, the elements of our society appear to be made up of well- educated , resourceful, and industrious citizens. However, an analysis of the systemic (emergent) properties of this society reveals that our diplomas are not recognized in the West, that our technologies lag behind by several decades; that our scientific discoveries remain in the dusty files of candidate and doctoral dissertations, and so on. Worse still, we are in no way prepared to take our systemic properties into account, and these properties reflect our individual traits in some way or another. This disheartening status quo has been here for centuries.
Unfortunately, the same is true of this society’s moral emergent properties. Each of us, considered separately, appears a decent individual, honest and hard-working. Yet whatever you look at in Ukraine is out of order, everywhere dishonest people are in command. Are these foreigners, perhaps aliens? Don’t ask me who is to blame. The regime, of course. But the regime is just a summed-up manifestation of all our social “virtues.” The only possible conclusion is that nothing will change until we change ourselves.
