India has proposed that its year presiding over G20 process be dedicated to helping “catalyze a fundamental mindset shift,” away from the zero-sum mindset that has dominated humanity thus far in history, to one recognizing “the fundamental oneness of us all.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid out his perspective for the G20 presidency in an article published on Dec. 1st, when the presidency began. He includes important specifics: that India’s priorities for the G20 will give a greater voice to others in the Global South; that it seeks to “depoliticise the global supply of food, fertilizers and medical products, so that geo-political tensions do not lead to humanitarian crises;” and “will encourage an honest conversation among the most powerful countries – on mitigating risks posed by weapons of mass destruction and enhancing global security.”
The heart of his perspective, however, is on the philosophical principles where solutions can be found. The G20 has helped stabilize world economic crises, he wrote:
“However, as India assumes this important mantle, I ask myself – can the G20 go further still? Can we catalyse a fundamental mindset shift, to benefit humanity as a whole?
“I believe we can....Our mindsets are shaped by our circumstances. Through all of history, humanity lived in scarcity. We fought for limited resources, because our survival depended on denying them to others. Confrontation and competition – between ideas, ideologies and identities – became the norm.
“Unfortunately, we remain trapped in the same zero-sum mindset even today. We see it when countries fight over territory or resources. We see it when supplies of essential goods are weaponised. We see it when vaccines are hoarded by a few, even as billions remain vulnerable.
“Some may argue that confrontation and greed are just human nature. I disagree. If humans were inherently selfish, what would explain the lasting appeal of so many spiritual traditions that advocate the fundamental one-ness of us all?
