I think one of the best ways to unite people is a common threat or enemy. Since an alien invasion is unlikely, we’re left with a couple less clear scenarios that I can think of:
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A crazy rogue nation hell bent on plantary destruction would probably get a unified response. Best candidate is a Republican controlled United States or perhaps another petro state ignoring carbon emissions with climate change really getting bad.
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Climate change just gets really bad and demands a coordinated response.
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An international revolution that removes power from the currently ruling classes. My thinking here is that international conflict is started by oligarchs and other elites across the world. For example, I doubt the average Russian would even consider invading Ukraine if it weren’t for those at the top running a shit economy and using the media to spread lies. Similar for the Chinese and Taiwan, Americans and the whole world, etc. I just have a hard time believing large human populations would fight over something in this age without being encouraged to do so by those who would benefit.
- The evangelicals have been for decades sending funds intended for Israel’s takeover of Palestine, hoping that would trigger an Armageddon (aka: planetary extinction event) and the second coming of Christ. I see no uniting of humanity against homicidal religions, more like the opposite.
- Climate change is a multi-century thing. It requires no unified response, just an “each one find their own way to conquer a piece of Antarctica” and kill everyone else in their way.
- Elites have both nukes and nuclear shelters, they wouldn’t be the ones on the losing end of a worldwide revolution.
The closest thing to a planetary threat, is giving control of the military to some AI… but given that several countries are already working on that, the more likely outcome is for everyone to get killed by everyone else, before anyone can unite.
