Upheaval

"Never let a good crisis go to waste," said Winston Churchill, and Jared Diamond’s Upheaval explains exactly how countries can turn crises into opportunities for growth and transformation.

1. Crisis Requires Honest Self-Assessment

Crisis, whether personal or national, demands a clear view of reality. Denial only deepens the problem. Acknowledging the crisis gives a chance to evaluate what’s going wrong and what actions to take. Jared Diamond discusses how self-awareness plays a vital role in dissecting complex situations and creating effective solutions.

For nations, this often means examining identity, history, and values. Finland, for example, had to assess its position after breaking away from Russia’s control. It decided what freedoms mattered most while considering how to manage the obligation to border its former oppressor.

This step is just as essential for individuals. Life transitions or personal disasters can feel like identity crises, but understanding what went wrong helps to decide what changes are non-negotiable and what remains constant. Without this, change either stagnates or leads to more unnecessary upheaval.

Examples

• Finland acknowledged its untenable position against Soviet Russia in WWII, adjusting its diplomacy instead of refusing.
• Japan, realizing its military inferiority, learned from Western nations during the Meiji reform.
• Germany post-WWII recognized its mistakes and sought forgiveness from neighbors.

2. Selective Change Is Key to Progress

In times of crisis, everything can't change at once. Selective change — keeping core values while adjusting peripheral factors — sets the stage for recovery. This dynamic ensures growth doesn’t erase identity or founding principles.

During the Meiji era (1868 onwards), Japan modernized its economy and military while keeping the essence of its traditions. But this wasn’t blindly following the West; Japan infused its reforms with cultural distinctiveness, like maintaining its deep reverence for the emperor.

Purposeful, incremental changes shine a light on what truly matters. When Australia faced its post-WWII crisis, it dropped the restrictive "White Australia" policy, embracing multiculturalism while maintaining ties with British royal symbolism for cultural continuity.

Examples

• Japan modernized its military with German and British guidance but kept cultural traditions like familial loyalty.
• Finland shifted to industrialization but balanced this with loyalty to its small population.
• Australia embraced a multicultural identity while keeping Queen Elizabeth II as a symbolic figure.

3. External Help Is Often Necessary

Crises sometimes exceed the scope of a single nation. Outside assistance plays a vital role, as long as it’s paired with internal responsibility. Whether it's borrowing ideas or receiving material aid, international collaboration can accelerate recovery.

West Germany’s inclusion in the Marshall Plan after WWII proved transformative. Financial support from the United States allowed rapid rebuilding while reforms in governance brought confidence to both allies and citizens. This cooperation fought both economic despair and political instability.

Likewise, Chile invited foreign advisors, like the Chicago Boys, who reshaped its faltering economy during Augusto Pinochet's reign. Though Chile’s political environment had glaring issues, the technical expertise helped stabilize inflation and open Chile to global commerce.

Examples

• West Germany accepted U.S. aid through the Marshall Plan to recover post-war.
• Chile brought economic advisors from the University of Chicago for financial reform.
• Japan welcomed Western-educated leaders to help with internal reforms during the Meiji era.

4. Political Polarization Erodes Unity

Nations struggle when political compromise evaporates. Chile, long a symbol of stability, unraveled in the 1970s due to deep political divisions. Marxist president Salvador Allende nationalized industries, angering right-wing opponents and causing economic and social ruptures.

Uncompromising stances create fertile ground for violent uprisings or authoritarian takeovers. In Chile, political polarization led to a violent coup by Augusto Pinochet, installing a dictatorship. Polarization seems to destabilize societies when political motives become prioritized over governance.

Avoiding extremes requires leaders willing to bridge gaps. In postwar Germany, for example, Willy Brandt's pragmatic leadership sought understanding and forgiveness, even negotiating with former adversaries like Poland.

Examples

• Chile’s inability to compromise led to the fall of democracy in the 1970s.
• The U.S. political system risks polarization over extensions like voter restrictions or partisan gridlock.
• Willy Brandt’s apologies to Eastern nations were symbolic acts mending historical wounds.

5. Adaptation Needs Patience and Flexibility

Addressing crises isn't solved overnight. Having a long view allows nations to plan effectively while incrementally adjusting. Patience under pressure offers leaders clarity in solving longstanding threats like economic despair, environmental depletion, or political corruption.

Japan’s modernization during the late 19th century didn’t come quickly. Gradual reforms in education, infrastructure, and governance reshaped it within decades into a strong power, culminating in victory at the Battle of Tsushima Strait (1904–1905).

Flexibility also applies to compromises. Finland decided to pay steep reparations to Soviet Russia after WWII, finding peace instead of further conflict. By trading industrial goods with its former enemy, it built economic resilience and maintained independence.

Examples

• Japan’s Meiji modernization took decades but turned losses into strengths.
• Finland chose diplomacy and reparations over confrontation with Russia.
• Australia's gradual policy shifts opened pathways for broader cultural inclusivity.

6. Geography Shapes National Resilience

Where a nation resides influences its options in crises. Finland's border with Russia presented unique challenges. It couldn't physically move but adapted its diplomacy and economy to balance Eastern tension with Western alignment.

In contrast, Australia, geographically isolated, sought out partnerships after Britain distanced its support. It built stronger ties with the United States, shifting alliances while maintaining a sense of security.

Geography also determines resources. Indonesia's archipelago spread meant it had to unite its diverse islands with an emphasis on shared trade growth.

Examples

• Finland used diplomatic trade instead of aggression with powerful Russia.
• Australia looked to the U.S. for security partnerships in the Pacific region.
• Indonesia welded its diverse islands together through economic interdependence.

7. Economic Shifts Fuel Recovery

Economic stability often anchors broader changes. For nations like postwar Germany and Chile, employing foreign economic models became turning points during a national crisis. Germany’s recovery lay in embracing a market-based economy post-WWII, while Pinochet’s Chile used financial reforms to counteract inflation.

However, these economic reforms came with uneven consequences. In Chile’s case, lower poverty rates brought wealth disparity. It underscores the delicate line nations must walk when reinventing systems post-crisis to avoid creating new problems.

Examples

• Germany’s Deutsche Mark became symbolic of stability post-WWII.
• Chile's free trade reforms under Pinochet improved GDP but worsened inequality.
• Indonesia’s embrace of western economic models through the Berkeley Mafia reduced debt.

8. Forgiveness as a Tool for Healing

Apologizing or seeking amends strengthens national and international ties post-crisis. It builds goodwill and acts as a unifier in fractured societies. Chancellor Willy Brandt’s kneeling in Poland symbolized West Germany accepting responsibility for WWII atrocities, earning global respect.

Such acts indicate maturity. They sometimes offer ways forward when wounds — historical or political — prevent healing. Australia began investing in better relations with Aboriginal peoples and immigrant communities, departing from its exclusionary past.

Examples

• Germany asked for forgiveness from European countries over WWII crimes.
• Australia worked on reconciliation with Aboriginal peoples.
• Poland acknowledged shared suffering through diplomatic exchanges.

9. Humanity’s Crises Demand Collective Action

Climate change, resource depletion, and economic inequity challenge humanity as a whole. No nation alone can solve such pressing concerns; global cooperation is imperative, as illustrated by treaties addressing climate goals or shared international guidelines.

Reducing carbon footprints, like Europe’s efforts compared to the U.S.’s higher consumption rates, focuses less on blaming past behaviors and more on adjusting them together. Partnerships, such as the Paris Agreement, exemplify why collective goodwill must replace nationalism.

Examples

• The Paris Agreement is a platform for tackling climate collectively.
• European nations show how responsible energy policies share tech advantages.
• Global aid programs highlight united action solving shared human-scale challenges.

Takeaways

1. Acknowledge your challenges honestly, identifying which values should stay and where you need to adapt.
2. Embrace outside help when appropriate, borrowing ideas without losing your identity.
3. Foster cooperation and patience in solving both local and global crises, focusing on shared responsibility and action.