Collective Intelligence: United Nations

As technology picks us up and washes us away in its all its simplified complexity, it becomes an integral part of not only the life of the individual, but also the life of organisations and institutions; namely the United Nations. As countries in the United Nations become more and more dependent on the intelligence that the other countries had to offer, and as the United Nations itself saw an increasing demand for the intelligence of all its member states to be collected, categorised and stored, the overarching need for collective intelligence became apparent.

Taken from one of the most accessible collective intelligence mediums in the world is the definition of collective intelligence itself. Collective intelligence is the grouping and collaboration of information from individuals that creates consensus decision-making (Wikipedia, 2010).

In November 2008 the world saw another one of its large organisations, the European Union, adopt collective intelligence platforms via the creation of a shared computer network that allowed each member to brainstorm the given idea and then contribute their individual ideas to a shared database. This database filtered similar ideas and made those ideas that were more frequently put forward, the main concepts discussed during the conference. (EURActive.com, 2008) This use of collective intelligence makes the essential information more readily accessible and uses the minds of the individual to create, confirm and contribute to the collective ideas of the masses. In such a globalised and complex world psychologist Professor Peter Kruse puts it best,

"The complexity and dynamics in the world are increasingly overrunning the capacity of individual intelligence. The time for a single great mind solving problems is over" (EURActive.com, 2008).

It is true the individual thought is no longer favoured above the collective, therefore it is essential that institutions such as the United Nations, see globalization as an opportunity to network their intelligence and have taken steps to do so. A networked United Nations would increase stability, and also improve managerial functions within the institution. It has been suggested that through social networking the United Nations would have greater access to information concerning the international arena and therefore become more efficient in responding to conflicts, and have a greater impact in peacekeeping missions (Ekpe, 2009). By connecting the international arena and having an institution such as the United Nations governing this collective intelligence, troops would be deployed faster, aid would be collected and distributed more efficiently, conflicts would be addressed earlier and understanding between member states would concreted further.

Furthermore, the United Nations could benefit from not only an internal social network, as this may foster bonding social capital, but also from an external social network which promotes linking social capital (Flew, 2002). If all the member states of the United Nations contribute and have access to an internal social network, then the information that is pooled into this network would only be compiled of the intelligence of the United Nations. In order to increase the input of intelligence and therefore the scope and depth of the information, an external network that is accessible by other members of the international society would be essential. This would then in turn create more value to the information being pooled, as opening up the collective intelligence medium to be external would increase heterophily. For example, if intelligence of where to best distribute aid, where not to deploy troops and when or where conflicts are about to arise was immediately accessible to the United Nations, then if needed, resolutions could be passed quicker and actions could be made faster to avoid another United Nations failure. Naturally, the collective intelligence would have to be controlled and in some circumstances made inaccessible to the external contributors, however, technology makes anything possible.

To put collective intelligence in more simple terms, if the United Nations had a Facebook page, member states could become friends, populations could become fans, each country could ‘like’ a resolution and important wall posts from Iraqi citizens who need aid could be sent directly to their Iphones. Fans could even ‘send a gift’ and donate to peacekeeping missions and the United Nations could always update its status on the Millennium Development goals!

Social networking in the international arena has been utilised before and has been deemed very successful in decision-making. The United Nations would greatly benefit from the implementation of a collective intelligence platform as in the 21^st Century; readily accessible knowledge is indispensable especially in such a globalised world.

Bibliography

Ekpe, B. (2009). The United Nations and the Rationale for Collective Intelligence. New York: Cambria Press.

EURActive.com. (2008, November 12). ’Collective intelligence’ tool enters European Parliament. Retrieved October 25, 2010, from Euroactive Network: http://www.euractiv.com/en/infosociety/collective-intelligence-tool-enters-european-parliament/article-177082

Flew, T. (2002). New Media. New York: Oxford University Press.

Gareis, S., & Varwick, J. (2005). The United Nations. New York: Palgrave McMillan.

Wikipedia. (2010, April). Collective Intelligence. Retrieved October 25, 2010, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_intelligence