The Deep Now Project: Understanding Today’s Interconnected Global Challenges

The world is evolving at a rapid pace. Economic pressures, geopolitics and conflict, technological advances, and environmental events are discussed every day. Today, there is an overwhelming volume of information, making it difficult to understand how complex global issues connect.

Typically, most books and reports discuss problems in a linear, one-problem-at-a-time way, giving the reader a partial view of the problem.

Lance Hoovestal has developed a different project. Instead of examining global issues individually, he explores them in a systems-based, interconnected way. The Deep Now Project aims to make today's world easy to grasp and organized in an accessible manner, while also fostering hope and action.

The Story Behind the Project

A wonderful experience inspired The Deep Now Project in Tanzania. Lance was watching a peaceful duck-like bird paddling in a lake when it suddenly took off into the sky.  Immediately, a larger heron-like bird attacked and swallowed it. It was too late for the smaller bird to realize what was happening to it.

This moment was a powerful lesson. Lance realized that he had seen a real-world failure to survive at work, and that at any moment, for any or all of us, the equivalent of that long, sharp beak could open and shut on us, and that would be that. He understood that the threats menacing humanity lie just beneath the surface and are spreading around the world all at once. They are nuclear, cyber, and biological weapons, economic imbalance, political division, class conflict, the forming of ideas, and the culture of modern science. The Project is about becoming more aware and describes the most dangerous situations we face today, the threats they pose to our global civilization, and what needs to be done about them.

To look at the world through 6 maps

An intriguing concept under The Deep Now Project is its “six maps” framework.

Whereas the Project considers world events neither random nor isolated, it has divided them into six interconnected areas.

▪ Securing the future of global affairs and security

▪ The study of economics and unlimited growth

▪ The social and political divisions of society

▪ Class conflict

▪ Ideas and human values

▪ The culture of modern science

These maps are designed to describe a single aspect of the global situation. Readers learn how one issue relates to another when they read them together.

An economic crisis can, for instance, affect political decisions, leading to increased social tensions impacting international relations and even leading to war. This integrated way helps to comprehend the complexities of global issues.

More Than Just Another Global Affairs Book

Numerous books address a single issue, be it strategics, economics, civics, class, ideas, or science and technology. The Deep Now Project is an overarching narrative that synthesizes all these topics.

Another difference is its personal style. Lance describes his life and academic and professional experiences throughout the world.  He includes places he has lived in, such as Spain, Germany, Sweden, Turkey, Greece, Ireland, Singapore, China, and Australia. These authentic experiences allow his exploration to be better understood and to be more meaningful.

The Project is more than just a collection of facts and theories; it’s a set of stories that communicate with the reader on a personal level about the important issues our world faces.

Turning complex ideas into easy-to-understand ones

A great strength of The Deep Now Project is that it is written in simple language.

Although Lance has a doctorate in international relations, he chose to write for everyday readers instead of only academics. This book avoids difficult vocabulary and breaks down complex concepts through stories, examples, and practical comparisons.

The Project is suitable for all stakeholders, including students, teachers, businesspeople, policymakers, and curious readers, because it is designed to provide understanding rather than technical jargon.

Carrying the message of ‘Giving Importance to Every Voice’ through the years

The Project is highly confident that great ideas can emerge from those who aren’t often listened to.

Lance shares how his mother, a Gros Ventre Assiniboine Sioux, grew up on the reservation yet became a corporate president.  She instilled resilience, determination, and strength in him during difficult times. His father began as a cowboy, then a soldier, sportsman, and academic. Ultimately, he was a successful businessman. He taught Lance perseverance and entrepreneurship.  These lessons led him to believe that tough issues and pragmatic approaches to them are often first perceived by unlikely people and communities before they are apparent to others. 

The Deep Now Project aims to inspire everyone to listen to a variety of voices, rather than just those of traditional institutions or experts. It describes how integrating multiple perspectives creates more effective, equitable, and lasting solutions for global challenges.

The Power to Act on Awareness.

Numerous books address global issues without leaving the reader feeling helpless. In contrast, The Deep Now Project provides practical ideas rather than merely identifying problems.

Some suggested actions include:

▪ Minimizing the possibility of nuclear war through disarmament

▪ Developing balanced economic systems

▪ Establishing approaches to balance national and global interests

▪ Developing production systems that leverage modern technologies to minimize class conflict

▪ Promoting ideas, values, and norms able to promote such systems, and

▪ Increasing opportunities for representation of under-represented, marginalized groups in decision-making

Knowing the problems is just a first step. Progress is achieved only through thoughtful action.

Modern Media to reach more people

The creators hope to continue the dialogue through podcasts, public dialogues, interviews, or an annual ‘Deep Now Forum'. This forum aims to create an environment where all people, regardless of industry, expertise level, or cultural background, can exchange ideas and discuss significant global issues.

Whereas most traditional conferences target political or business leaders, the Deep Now Forum aims to involve ordinary people who are often left out of the picture.

The Project also relies on digital media and public relations to disseminate information to educators, students, researchers, businesspeople, and readers worldwide.

The Power of Collaboration

Lance and his PhD advisor, Professor Ralph Pettman, demonstrated the power of collaboration in undertaking The Deep Now Project. 

Lance brings many years of international academic and business experience, along with personal observations from studying, working, and simply living throughout the world. Professor Pettman held teaching or research posts at numerous prestigious universities worldwide, including The University of Melbourne, where he first worked with Lance.

This balance produces a balanced work with a practical and strong intellectual component. Readers are treated to thoughtfully analyzed, grounded, experience-based reports.

We owe it to ourselves to have hope because it spurns fear and helps to promote awareness, talk, and collaboration.  While addressing serious threats from around the world, The Deep Now Project carries an overarching message of hope.

Conclusion

The Deep Now Project is a new way of thinking about today's complex world. Rather than dealing with problems independently, it gives insight into the close relationships between the world’s challenges. The Project conveys hard-to-understand information in easily understood terms, with personal anecdotes, practical solutions, and optimism.

The Deep Now Project is a concise way to navigate through the sea of information and news we are swamped with. It’s an introduction to what's going on today, highlighting the formidable threats to our global civilization and what we, with hope, cooperation, and action, might do about them.