What Africa Needs: A Tipping Point (Part 1)

I recently finished Malcolm Gladwell’s acclaimed best seller “The Tipping Point: How Little Things can Make a Big Difference”. Gladwell’s focus is on on the ‘how and why’ associated with social epidemics. How, Gladwell writes, did crime rates drastically drop in the 1990′s? Why did the outdated Hushpuppy shoe make an astounding come back prior to almost being discontinued? These social epidemics occur across a multitude of situations and events. Despite their differences, the underlying drivers of these social epidemics are three principles which Gladwell argues are the foundation for all social epidemics: 1)The Law of the Few, 2)The Stickiness Factor and 3)The Power of Context.

So, I thought, if epidemics are nothing more than the convergence of the above named principles then maybe, just maybe, we can create some social epidemics of our own. After all, the current situation in Iran is no seemingly different than many of the cases Gladwell writes about in his book. A couple key people, the stickiness of an idea, and the context in which the events took place catalyzed a tipping point in which Iranians stood up and fought back against their governments for a democratic Iran.

Africa, a continent synonymous with political turmoil, corruption, poverty, and no seemingly easy way of fixation, needs a tipping point. A situation in which the three laws converge to put an unprecedented end to HIV and Malaria. A shift in expectations towards education, in which it is an assumed right and not a privilege. Healthy, educated individuals are the key to a peaceful Africa.

“Easier said than done,” you are all thinking. But at some level it’s the desensitized cynicism that is partly responsible. Even as I sit here, piously blogging about Africa, millions are starving, while I pretend like I am accomplishing something. I do believe however, that by writing and discussing and speaking out we can work to create a tipping point of our own. I see potential to identify tipping point opportunities by analyzing tipping points of the past.

“Epidemics are strongly influenced by their situation-by the circumstances and conditions and particulars of the environments in which they operate. This much is obvious. What is interesting, though, is how far this principle can be extended. It isn’t just prosaic factors like the weather that influence behavior. Even the smallest and subtlest and most unexpected of factors can affect the way we act.” Gladwell goes on, saying “The key to getting people to change their behavior sometimes lies with the smallest details of their immediate situation. The power of context says that human beings are a lot more sensitive to their environment that they may seem.”

In Part 2 of this I will discuss a practical solution and an action plan to put that solution into practice over the next year. Yes, I’m talking about action. And I want help…