What does local mean in an interdependent world?

The tectonic plates have shifted in the relationship between the state and the people it serves. From an era in which this relationship was defined by the state’s structures — parliament or the town hall — these structures now need to be re-defined by the fluctuating and interdependent relationships between the state and its people, as users, consumers and citizens.

We now live in a “fragmengrated” society — where relationships are dominated by a dual paradox of fragmentation and integration: we are not as faithful to brands as we once were, but we think nothing of depending on monopolies for how we find information (Google) and to connect with people online (Facebook). We want to be able to travel freely wherever we like and consume different cultures however we please, but we want to restrict people from those cultures being able to travel over here. There are more and more new forms of ghettoisation like gated communities, but there’s also more and more civic activity.

These patterns of relationships, previously predictable and institutionally managed are now increasingly fluctuating and interdependent of one another.

Shaping these social interactions has become easier than keeping them in shape, which is why…

What does local mean in an interconnected world?

There seems to be a compartmentalisation between different forms of globalisation. Globalisation of connections and technology seems to be perceived as benign and generally positive. Globalisation of trade however, is often confronted against localisation of economies. The globalisation of different cultures creates diversity, but is also perceived to create conflict. Because of these different compartmentalisations, there seems to be an ambiguous relationship between the civic economy and globalisation. How does the civic economy interact with globalisation?

What we’re moving towards is a proximity economy. Proximity is more than just a narrow view of localism. Proximity is about the proximity driven by platforms, which tells stories of shared purpose systems.

How do we develop systems of proximity?

How can we move beyond the illusion of distinguishing the local from the global in a connected world. Take examples of transnational networks that use physical infrastructure at a local level and digital infrastructure at a global level to create and connect communities of people, whether it’s the Fab Labs or Global Hub Network.

Is there likely to be a cultural conflict between those who’ve grown up with those behaviours and those people who want to protect their English village? Will there be a contest by the “Walter Mitties” of this world about what we mean by proximity, or is there something within it that they can relate to?

It’s like a child. At primary school, a child’s field of play is their classroom. At secondary school, it’s their school and at university, it’s their town. So it’s the idea that you create boundaries of socialisation which supports people’s growth. You have to create proximity systems — scales of proximity — that people can psychologically grow into.

Through proximity, people can see that from other cultures, they might be currently be buying goods which have globalised supply chains. The power of proximity is that you can transnationalise that consciousness.

Coming out of your own culture helps you look back at it in a better way, but also create their own supply chains.