Citizens Create Civilizations.
The Psychological Design of Nationals (Individuals-Neurons) is the Foundation for the Ideological Design of Nations (Institutions-Neuros): Evident Examples from 2001 to 2025 – A Globolocal Rationale
Abstract
Nations are first psychological constructs at the individual level — built from neurons firing in patterns of belonging, fear, pride, grievance, and fusion — before they manifest as ideological institutions (the “neuros” of state structures, policies, and doctrines). From 2001 to 2025, this bottom-up process is evident in how individual and collective mental states shape national ideologies. This paper examines three cases: Bhutan (~90% rationalized: calm, holistic psychological design yielding stable wellbeing-focused ideology), Britain (~50% radicalized: mixed post-imperial anxiety fueling Brexit-era nationalist ideology), and Bangladesh (~90% radicalized: intense trauma and grievance driving volatile, confrontational ideology). In the globolocal era, global forces (e.g., modernization, crises) interact with these local psychological designs to produce ideological outcomes.
1. Core Thesis: From Individual Neurons to National Neuros
Psychological design begins in individuals: evolved mechanisms like social identity fusion, collective memory curation, and terror management (anxiety reduction via group belonging) create shared national affect. These “neuron-level” patterns aggregate into collective mental architectures, which elites and institutions then formalize into ideological “neuros” — constitutions, policies, symbols, and doctrines.
From 2001–2025, global events (9/11 aftermath, economic crises, pandemics, digital radicalization) amplified these dynamics, showing how psychological states causally precede and constrain ideology.
Here are serene images of Bhutan’s Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest Monastery), symbolizing the calm, contemplative psychological foundation of its national identity:
These visuals evoke balanced, reflective individual psyches aggregated into a harmonious national whole.
2. Case Studies: Psychological Design Shaping Ideology (2001–2025)
Bhutan (~90% Rationalized)
From the early 2000s onward, Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GNH) philosophy — formalized in the 2008 Constitution and refined through periodic surveys — deliberately engineered a rationalized national psyche. Individual-level mechanisms emphasize psychological wellbeing, mindfulness (rooted in Buddhism), time-use balance, and low existential threat reactivity. GNH’s nine domains (including psychological wellbeing and community vitality) guide policy, fostering reflective, low-grievance identities. Surveys from 2010–2022 show rising happiness levels (e.g., GNH Index from 0.743 to 0.781), even amid global crises like COVID-19.
This bottom-up rationalization produces a stable ideological neuros: sustainable development prioritizing inner peace, cultural preservation, and ecological harmony over aggressive growth or confrontation.
Britain (~50% Radicalized)
Post-2001, Britain’s psychological design blended imperial nostalgia with growing insecurity (e.g., post-financial crisis, immigration anxieties). The 2016 Brexit referendum amplified English nationalism: individual-level factors like categorical thinking, resentment toward “out-groups” (EU, migrants), and identity fusion drove Leave votes. Studies link strong English identifiers to authoritarian, conservative ideologies, with Brexit as a grievance outlet. From 2016–2025, this mixed radicalization (pride in sovereignty vs. exclusionary nativism) persisted amid debates over identity and control.
The resulting ideological neuros: a hybrid of exceptionalism and retrenchment, with institutions navigating global ties while prioritizing national “regain” of control.
Here are images capturing Britain’s mixed nationalist tensions during Brexit protests (intense crowds, flags, and polarized sentiments):
These reflect the 50/50 psychological split: traditional pride clashing with radicalized anxiety.
Bangladesh (~90% Radicalized)
From 2001–2025, Bangladesh’s national psyche was intensely shaped by trauma: 1971 Liberation War memories, recurring political violence, and crises (e.g., 2024 July Revolution/uprising with mass casualties, 2025 post-revolution unrest including assassinations, mob violence, and anti-minority attacks). Individual neurons fire in patterns of martyrdom, grievance amplification, and high reactivity — fueled by digital radicalization, protests, and cycles of revenge. Events like the 2024 quota protests turning violent, 2025 killings (e.g., activists, minorities), and Islamist-nationalist surges created volatile fusion.
This radicalized psychology sustains an ideological neuros prone to confrontation: fervent patriotism mixed with exclusion, anti-India/anti-secular narratives, and institutional fragility amid unrest.
Here are intense images of Bangladesh’s Shaheed Minar and protest mobilizations, symbolizing sacrifice, emotional volatility, and collective grievance:
These visuals highlight the high-radicalization dynamic driving ideological volatility.
3. Globolocal Rationale: Global Pressures Meet Local Psychological Designs
Globally, forces like digital media (amplifying radicalization), economic insecurity, and pandemics homogenize threats — yet local psyches filter them. Bhutan’s rationalized design glocalizes global wellbeing metrics into GNH harmony. Britain’s moderate radicalization reframes globalization as sovereignty loss (Brexit). Bangladesh’s intense grievance radicalizes regional tensions into confrontational ideology.
Psychological design remains causal: individual neuron patterns aggregate to determine ideological resilience or fragility.
4. Conclusion: Implications for the 21st Century
From 2001 to 2025, the psychological design of nationals (individual-level belonging and emotion) demonstrably precedes and shapes the ideological design of nations (institutional doctrines). Bhutan’s model shows rationalized psyches enable sustainable ideology; Britain’s hybrid reveals transitional risks; Bangladesh’s radicalization warns of volatility and conflict. In globolocal contexts, interventions — education, memory curation, wellbeing policies — can guide collective mental states toward harmony over fracture.
This mechanistic view calls for deeper interdisciplinary study of how neuron-level patterns scale to national neuros in our interconnected world.
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