12. Absence of clear understanding of
to whom instructions on global risks are directed
It
is not clear exactly who should be heeding our advice to deal with global
risks. There are many different parties and their relative ability to influence
the global situation is unknown. Many parties may underestimate their own
influence, or estimate it correctly but hesitate to do anything because they
see it as so small. Then everyone will do nothing, the bystander effect kicks
in again, and we may may the
price. An important part of risk research should be identifying to whom
literature on global risks should be directed. High-ranking military and
intelligence personnel seem like obvious candidates, but there are many others,
including rank-and-file scientists of all kinds.