Chandran Nair

Chandran Nair is the Founder and CEO of Global Institute for Tomorrow and a member of the Executive Committee of the Club of Rome. He is the author of “The Sustainable State: The Future of Government, Economy and Society”. His latest book “Dismantling Global White Privilege: Equity for a Post-Western World” will be available from December.

Chandran's recent articles

The AI that Silicon Valley fears: How DeepSeek democratised innovation

The AI that Silicon Valley fears: How DeepSeek democratised innovation

The Chinese company’s open-source model proves that innovation thrives on sharing, not Western Big Tech’s hypocritical monopolisation.

The West and the rest: how genocide in Gaza will usher in the end of ‘his-story’

The West and the rest: how genocide in Gaza will usher in the end of ‘his-story’

Since the beginning of this century — triggered by the United States’ illegal invasion of Iraq, its occupation of Afghanistan, and aided by the turbocharged arrival of the digital age — there has been significant growth in interest among those in the non-Western world around issues related to their colonial past.

The world’s population is poised to decline – and that’s great news

The world’s population is poised to decline – and that’s great news

Some 18 months ago, the news broke that China’s population was beginning to contract. There was a knee-jerk reaction from business commentators who were wringing their hands eagerly over the implications this would have on China’s economic forecast and its place in the world – namely that fewer people would result in less consumption, ultimately slower growth, and thus alter the trajectory of its rise.

The global collapse of parenting and the rise of the device

The global collapse of parenting and the rise of the device

Over ten years ago, I wrote an article for the Guardian that argued it was time to slay a sacred cow: that the internet is a force for good. Many advised me against writing it, saying it would be read as the views of a laggard, but it became one of the most-read articles published by the Guardian that year.

To restore humanity, stop the genocide and make Israel accountable

To restore humanity, stop the genocide and make Israel accountable

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Archbishop Desmond Tutu

If China became a democracy, would it still be rejected by the West?

If China became a democracy, would it still be rejected by the West?

Over the last few years, I have wondered about what drives the relentless Western animosity towards China. It seems a very logical question to ask if one wants to understand the world today. But you will be hard pressed to find this explained in commentary provided by the Western media. What one gets is screaming daily headlines, like one recently found in the FT:“US seeks to isolate China with help of Allies.”

Will 2024 be the year to rein in the military-industrial complex, the biggest threat to global peace?

Will 2024 be the year to rein in the military-industrial complex, the biggest threat to global peace?

The complex, a key part of US political economy, fuels geopolitical tensions and enables countries and private actors to push for and capitalise on conflict. Its time for societies to make concerted efforts to rein it in and build a movement to educate the world about the grave threat it poses to civilisation.

Governments must take drastic action on climate, not pander to the public, or were all doomed to boil

Governments must take drastic action on climate, not pander to the public, or were all doomed to boil

For truly effective measures to counter climate change, governments need to break from the ideological clutches of classical free market economics. Systemic change must be led by governments with requisite political power and intent, well-defined objectives, and authority to act without fear.

Gaza and the graveyard for children: the moral decline of Western politics

Gaza and the graveyard for children: the moral decline of Western politics

Weak Western leaders, certain of their own exceptionalism, have endangered world peace by peddling narratives that justify the unjustifiable. Abuse of the charge of antisemitism silences those calling for an end to the bloodshed, fomenting a callous response to the killing of Palestinians.

US must curb Israels revenge instinct, end Palestinian suffering by wielding its power for peace

US must curb Israels revenge instinct, end Palestinian suffering by wielding its power for peace

The world is appalled that the US has backed a war of vengeance by Israel on the captive Palestinian population. A US-led global peace process is critical to ending decades of violence in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Facing existential threats, raging wars highlight our failure to co-exist

Facing existential threats, raging wars highlight our failure to co-exist

The world recently saw the hottest day in120 thousand years, mainly driven by climate change arising from our addiction to fossil fuels sustaining economic growth and maintaining our lifestyles. We are consumingmore oil than ever before in human history enough to fill6,500 Olympic swimming poolsevery day.

From Americas IRA to Chinas eco-civilisation, a new global consensus is emerging. Globalisation and growth are out, redesigning society is in

From Americas IRA to Chinas eco-civilisation, a new global consensus is emerging. Globalisation and growth are out, redesigning society is in

This summer saw the hottest average global temperaturesin the last 125,000 years. Europe is embroiled in war, with other conflicts raging around the world. The global economy is still reeling from the impacts of the first global pandemic since 1919. Experts are warning against the threat posed by our most advanced technological creationartificial intelligence (AI). However, to piece together how we got here as a species and secure societies for the future, we need a heavy dose of BIbasic intelligence.

The West must prepare for a long overdue reckoning

The West must prepare for a long overdue reckoning

Five major trends illustrate how the world is changing, and that the West must grapple with the reality that it can no longer impose its leadership on the world as it once did.

Im sorry, but the toxic G-7 rich club is past its sell-by date

Im sorry, but the toxic G-7 rich club is past its sell-by date

YET ANOTHER G-7 meeting has passed with yet another embarrassing show of insecurity by a group that is well past its sell-by date.

Hong Kongs recovery: Greatest threat is parochialism

Hong Kongs recovery: Greatest threat is parochialism

In January, the Finance Secretary Paul Chan went to Davos as part of an effort to encourage the world to join the government in its embrace of a new start for Hong Kong and to sell its numerous inherent strengths. Combined with efforts that coincided with the full opening-up of Hong Kong and recent visits to the Philippines, Vietnam, the UAE and Saudi Arabia by the Chief Executive, it was a much needed and timely reaffirmation of the governments acute awareness of Hong Kongs current optics problem and the need to forge new relationships.

Can the West move beyond the business of war and work with China, other nations for global peace?

Can the West move beyond the business of war and work with China, other nations for global peace?

Instead of focusing on building bridges and finding common ground for peace, the West has increasingly sought to shore up support among its allies and castigate or demonise its enemies.

India-ASEAN collaboration: shaping a new global agenda

India-ASEAN collaboration: shaping a new global agenda

India holds this years presidency of the Group of 20 and has boldly stated its vision as Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (One Earth, One Family, One Future). This is a departure from the previous (and often dry) themes of the G20 which are dominated by geopolitical issues and economic priorities of Western powers.

Anti-China rhetoric is off the charts: what explains the mass hysteria in the West?

Anti-China rhetoric is off the charts: what explains the mass hysteria in the West?

A key feature of following the news and reporting from mainstream Western media today is the relentless China bashing. It is off the charts, tiring, and often regurgitated trivia or fabricated stories with no evidence to support callous statements about the country, demonstrating a deep lack of understanding. But it continues to be churned out with no end in sight.

Nord Stream: Urgent need for international investigations into crimes against the environment

Nord Stream: Urgent need for international investigations into crimes against the environment

The explosions at the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines on September 26 in the Baltic Sea have been deemed an act of sabotage but which nations or actors are responsible is yet to be known. Given the scale of the environmental crime, why are we not demanding the truth? What explains Western silence?

Its time for India to join the U.N. Security Council permanently

Its time for India to join the U.N. Security Council permanently

China in particular should support Indias ascension to permanent membership on the Security Council, a change that would reflect Indias global influence and a world order shifting away from the Wests dominance.

American aggression needs to be reined in for the good of Asia and the world

American aggression needs to be reined in for the good of Asia and the world

Decades of exceptionalism, ideological obsessions and a deep-rooted sense of superiority is catching up with the United States.

Work with China, not against it

Work with China, not against it

Most Western commentators take comfort in describing the tensions between the United States and China as the inevitable rivalry of two superpowers. But this camouflages an uncomfortable truth: that we are moving from a Western-constructed world into a post-Western world, with China leading the charge.

Tokenism against racism in the US helps hide an Inconvenient Global Scourge

Tokenism against racism in the US helps hide an Inconvenient Global Scourge

The decision of US President Biden to announce that he would replace the outgoing Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer by a black woman, Ketanji Brown Jackson may seem like a positive step in a country wracked by explicit and systemic racism.

The West's diplomatic boycott of Winter Olympics is gold-medal hypocrisy

The West's diplomatic boycott of Winter Olympics is gold-medal hypocrisy

This petty action squanders an opportunity for positive engagement and is rooted in a sense of anxiety about the rise of a non-Western nation.

Net zero and carbon neutrality: Unscientific myths for an us and them world

Net zero and carbon neutrality: Unscientific myths for an us and them world

The world is not united by the goal of net zero emissions by 2050. Each nation and region will have its own trajectory.

AUKUS agreement threatens peace in Asia

AUKUS agreement threatens peace in Asia

The security pact between the US, UK and Australia is a troubling reminder that these Anglo-Saxon powers are stuck in a Cold War mindset.

The White Mans Media must be challenged in the post western world

The White Mans Media must be challenged in the post western world

When a news network based in India or a newspaper based in Nigeria or Hong Kong can be held in the same high regard as The New York Times or the Financial Times, we will know that we have succeeded in eradicating global white privilege in the media.

Afghanistan shows white privilege in action on the geopolitical stage

Afghanistan shows white privilege in action on the geopolitical stage

The rapid collapse of the US-backed government in Afghanistan and the consequent yet predictable torrent of responses from Western media and politicians demonstrated just how entrenched the Western worldview in projecting its right to be the leaders of the world.

Quarantine, what quarantine? Nicole Kidman, expats and white privilege

Quarantine, what quarantine? Nicole Kidman, expats and white privilege

The unsaid but common understanding about foreigners in many parts of the non-Western world is that there is one group of them who can get away with a great deal: white people.

Remember Maos famine, forget Churchills racism: how the West colonised Asian minds- SCMP August 23 2021

In late June and early July, First Nations communities inCanadafound over 1,000 unmarked graves of children in Indian residential schools, which were run by the Roman Catholic Church from 1899 to 1997. This has led to activists burning Catholic churches and taking down statues of Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Victoria.

White privilege in sport runs deep, including the Olympics.

White privilege in sport runs deep, including the Olympics.

Racist abuse experienced by Black England players is the tip of the iceberg and our response must go deeper and wider and shine a light on white privilege, in the global sports industry.

The Global Fight Against White Supremacy and White Dominance

Last month, U.S. President Joe Biden signed legislation to make Juneteenth a Federal holiday, marking the day in 1865 when Black people in the U.S. gained freedom from slavery. Emancipation did not stop the repression of Black people, nor will this new gesture change much.

After a century of achievements, the CPC's next critical phase begins now

The Communist Party of China (CPC) commemorated its 100-year anniversary on July 1, 2021, a day that was met with celebratory Chinese introspection and no small amount of criticism from Chinas detractors. I had the privilege of being invited to speak at two international conferences to mark the celebration, one of which was attended by President Xi Jinping. This article summarizes the points I made in both talks.

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