NWA LETTERS

Does Putin sense Korea’s

hierarchy of needs?

Abraham Maslow was a real smarty-pants psychologist. He theorized that human beings had a hierarchy of needs that influenced their everyday thoughts and actions and needed to be satisfied for them to be happy, healthy, productive campers. He said to be free from hunger and thirst was the most basic of all of the needs. The need to be and feel safe and secure in your environment ran a close second. Given the satisfaction of these needs, then an individual can feel comfortable seeking the trust, confidence and acceptance of others, the third need. Assuming that a country, nation-state, is an amalgamation of millions of human beings and their needs, perhaps Maslow would accept a transfer of the hierarchy of needs as they might apply to North Korea?

North Korea cannot adequately provide for the basic needs of its citizens. As a nation, it wants for food, medicine, agricultural and overall economic renewal. With the presence of military units, weaponry and war games of historical enemies along their borders, in their skies and on their seas, they could hardly feel very safe and secure. Hence, it is understandable they may not trust and accept the offers and requests of their petitioners. Threats of “fire and fury,” “total destruction,” and the like, only amplify the distrust and lack of acceptance of each side in the dispute.

Vladimir Putin hinted he may be sensitive to North Korea’s quandary, or hierarchy of needs. Following a recent meeting with Kim Jong Un, Putin opined that Kim might consider placing a moratorium on his missile program if:

  1. The United Nation’s economic sanctions were lifted and North Korea was given assistance in refurbishing their manufacturing and agricultural infrastructure (Maslow’s most basic need.);

  2. The United States and South Korea would eliminate the military threats to North Korea’s security (Maslow’s next-most important need) by calling a halt to their joint military exercises and removing their military weaponry along the south side of the 38th parallel.

Putin offered that until these conditions ( needs) are met, North Korea is probably not going to feel safe and secure (Maslow’s third-most important need) enough to seek the trust, confidence and acceptance of other nation-states. Accordingly, they will continue to act in a defensive/protagonist manner with other international actors. In fact, Putin concluded, North Korea might even eat grass (basic need) if need be until these conditions are met.

Perhaps Putin read Maslow. After all, Maslow’s parents were both Russians.

JACK FULLER

Rogers

[email protected]

Upcoming Events