Dr. Nayef Al-Rodhan is a philosopher, neuroscientist and geostrategist. Currently, he is Senior Member of St. Antony’s College at Oxford, and Senior Scholar in Geostrategy and Director of the Programme on the Geopolitical Implications of Globalisation and Transnational Security at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, Geneva, Switzerland.
Previously trained in neurosurgery and neuroscience research at Yale University, Harvard University and the Mayo Clinic, he founded the neurotechnology programme, headed translational research and founded a laboratory for cellular neurosurgery at Harvard. He was also a faculty member of the Harvard Medical School.
Since he shifted his intellectual pursuits to geopolitics, he has proposed many innovative theories and concepts in global politics, security and geostrategy. He has published extensively on neuroscience research winning several research awards and prizes.
Al-Rodhan’s Best Known Three Philosophical Books
Dr. Nayef Al-Rodhan has published 17 books. In terms of his philosophical ideas, he is best known for his three books:
Sustainable History and the Dignity of Man: A Philosophy of History and Civilisational Triumph, 2009
This book proposes a new philosophy of history. It outlines how sustainable history is propelled by good governance, which balances the tension between the attributes of human nature – emotionality, amorality and egoism – and human dignity needs, such as reason, security, human rights, accountability, transparency, justice, opportunity, innovation and inclusiveness.
He also discusses his new theory of knowledge he calls "Neuro-Rational Physicalism.”
Emotional Amoral Egoism: A Neurophilosophical Theory of Human Nature and its Universal Security Implications, 2008
This book is a neuro-philosophy of human nature. It offers a fresh look at human nature and universal security by proposing a new general theory of human nature, "emotional amoral egoism", and a specific theory of human motivation that draws on a wide range of philosophical, psychological and evolutionary approaches to human nature as well as neuro-scientific research.
It argues that human behaviour is governed mainly by emotional self-interest and that the human mind is a predisposed tabula rasa, the epistemological thesis that individuals are born without built-in mental content as their knowledge comes from perception and experience. According to Al-Rodhan, most human beings are innately neither moral nor immoral but rather amoral.
Neo-statecraft and Meta-geopolitics: Reconciliation of Power, Interest and Justice in the 21st century, 2009
This book is a political philosophy book. It proposes a framework for conducting statecraft in the 21st century. Called neo-statecraft, this framework is based on the reconciliation of power, interests and justice.
Al-Rodhan proposes four substrates of neo-statecraft: 1) a new structure he calls meta-geopolitics, which includes seven inter-related dimensions of state power and identifies a Geostrategic Tripwire Pivotal Corridor (TPC); 2) a sustainable national security paradigm that stresses the centrality of justice, symbiotic realism and transcultural synergy; 3) a new concept called just power, which states that power must be smart as well as just, and that global justice is above all a national interest of all states; and 4) a new concept called reconciliation statecraft of the eight global interests.
Insight to Dr. Al-Rodhan’s Work
Philosopher, neuroscientist and geostrategist Nayef Al-Rodhan has published 17 books. In terms of his philosophical ideas, he is best known for his three philosophical books: Sustainable History and the Dignity of Man, Emotional Amoral Egoism and Neo-statecraft and Meta-geopolitics.
His many innovative ideas in global politics, security and geostrategy are significant and much related in today's world peace, security and sustainable development issues.
Dr. Al-Rodhan’s book Sustainable History and the Dignity of Man has been endorsed by President Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the U.S., and by Lord Anthony Giddens, former President of the London School of Economics.
“Dr. Nayef R.F. Al-Rodhan challenges us to grapple with the meaning of history and how it could lead to the improvement of the human condition. This book presents his views on how a sustainable history based on human dignity could be achieved. In his opinion, this requires good governance, based on “reason, security, human rights, accountability, transparency, justice, opportunity, innovation and inclusiveness.” I agree, and I hope that the path laid out in this book attracts many followers.” ~ President Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the U.S.
“No-one seeking to understand the modern condition can afford to ignore Dr Al-Rodhan's inspiring book, a profound analysis of the core values around which effective global governance can be built and sustained.” ~ Lord Anthony Giddens, House of Lords, Former President of LSE, UK
Interested readers may check out Sustainable History.
Source of Information and Endorsements:
Julia Knittel, Programme Assistant, Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), Programme on the Geopolitical Implications of Globalisation and Transnational Security. Geneva, Switzerland. 2010.
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