The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) chamber is filled with well-educated and well mannered (so we think) diplomats representing 193-member countries. We may find maximum diversity in their personalities as they come from varied backgrounds in language, religion, cultural and social values. People express their feelings or react to a situation through verbal expression or through their conscious or unconscious behaviour with body language and gestures influenced by their background. The UNGA chamber is perhaps a dreamland for psychologists to observe, listen to what is being said and what actually happened with what is not being said. It is much more than what an English zoologist and ethnologist, Desmond Morris dreamed of in his book ‘Manwatching’ (1978).
The UN General Assembly, consisting of all 193-member states of the United Nations and the Security Council consisting of five permanent and ten non-permanent members are the two most talked about organs of the UN system. Promotion of peace, security, human rights, social progress and safeguarding territorial integrity of member states are the core functions of these two organs of the United Nations. The relationships and interactions between these two organs of the UN sets the direction of UN’s work, prestige and effectiveness or its inefficiencies globally.
In 2022, there were 55 intercountry conflicts; many still ongoing. Since 2011 social progress (composite index consisting of health, shelter, inclusivity, equality & personal freedom) has been on decline in 111 countries including in all three English speaking G7 countries. How do UNGA members negotiate these issues? Who speaks and who listens and who understands and how are their recommendations acted upon by member states? It is an intractable cobweb.
A team of two psychologists, Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham suggested a communication model in 1955 popularly known as ‘Johari Window’ for people to understand self and others when people enter into dialogue. Its main aim is to be self-aware and understand others while conducting a dialogue. The focus is to understand the known and hidden (unknown) behaviours of the parties entering into a dialogue or negotiation. The idea is that by focusing on the known and the unknown, including your own blind spot helps to bolster communications in arriving at a consensus.
It is not an easy task but for the sake of illustration let us focus on the least political issue in the UN system, the climate crisis (without involving the Security Council and the UNGA).
Known Known: Numerous studies have linked the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission from the use of fossil fuel to the increase in concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, rising temperature of sea water, melting of glaciers, desertification of arable lands, unseasonal typhoons, hurricanes and frequent and long-lasting forest fires. These are the known known (both parties - fossil fuel industries and advocates demanding reduction in fossil fuel production) facts. The United Nations has been persistently negotiating with its member states to find a way to decrease fossil fuel consumption for at least three decades. It is only this time, COP28 in Dubai-2023, that the delegates agreed to transition away from fossil fuel to achieve a net zero emission target by 2050. Will it be achiebed?
Several promises have been made in the past to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission which remained only a promise. Why does the UN continue to fail? It is because there are other unknowns and knowns among the fossil fuel industries and the consumers alike, which are interfering in actually finding and implementing a permanent solution.
Known Unknown: There are facts known to the oil producing countries but unknown to other countries sitting in the round table trying to find solutions. There are undisclosed deals between oil & coal industries, subsidies provided to industries by the governments and industries consuming these products. The three largest emitters of GHG - China, India and the USA cannot be forced to move away from fossil fuels with the speed demanded by climate science. China, the global manufacturing hub, for example cannot be forced to end fossil fuel consumption any time soon in order not to disrupt the worldwide supply chain of household products and personal consumables. Low- and mid-income countries not responsible for the adverse impacts of GHG have been promised funds which are known to everyone to switch to renewable energy but source of funds is unknown
Unknown Known: It is like a blind spot one is not aware of but the others are. Certain industrialised countries and fossil fuel producing countries are unaware that countries around the world are aware of their role in blocking or not supporting the UN’s aim of getting rid of fossil fuel. For the climate crisis related disasters to be averted these countries have to realise the harm they are causing globally to nature and to people's health. Is this blind spot being not realised on purpose or is it a real blind spot you be the judge.
Unknown Unknown: It is an area unknown to all negotiating partners. Will the commitment of COP28 be honoured to end the fossil fuel era or will this commitment simply be another slogan to be remembered like all previous commitments not fulfilled? What steps will be required to realise the dream of COP28’s commitments is unknown to both the fossil fuel industries and the energy consumers worldwide. It is only a guessing game or guestimate.
The binding resolution of COP21 agreed in Paris was signed by 196 parties. Had this resolution been honoured, countries would have been on path to reduce GHG emission by 43% by 2030 which would require tripling of renewable energy production. The world is nowhere near this landmark; on the contrary, the emissions of GHG are actually increasing annually. The industrialised countries have exploited every possible loophole to continue subsidies to fossil fuel industries to maintain economic growth and most likely continue to do so and get away with it and will make yet another commitment in COP29 in Azerbaijan in 2024.
Another unknown-unknown is the funds required to construct a necessary number of renewable energy plants such as wind turbines, solar panels, hydropower plants, geothermal plants, and even nuclear plants which several countries are contemplating. Is it really possible to completely wean the world from fossil fuel all together? ABSOLUTELY NOT. The geography and geology of many low-income countries may not be suitable for some or all of these renewable technologies. In addition, the cost of such a transition could be unaffordable for many. Could the low-income countries with least industries be exempted from having to completely give up fossil fuels? Unknown.
In summary: The prevailing situation in our society is that people are satisfied with their own knowledge and opinion even if it means perpetual ignorance by overlooking blind spots. This is what Johari window wants to change by making people aware of their blind spot and making efforts to understand others’ known and unknown. People need to make efforts to appreciate their own blind spot and seek to know what they do not know and knowing what you want to do with what you know.
The theme of Johari Window is to encourage open dialogue – no cards under the sleeve! But it is easier said than done. Will there be a future for the Johari window in the United Nations? Perhaps a naïve question!
What an interesting application of Johari’s Window, thankyou!
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