Here is a Silver Lining

Here is a Silver Lining Positive leadership gives the right direction to its people, so that they set about struggling for what is right, rather than just register complaint after complaint. T he British historian Arnold J. Toynbee (1889 – 1975) is best known for his 12-volume work, A Study of History, which was published from 1934-61. In this work he has examined the rise and fall of 26 civilizations throughout the course of history and has developed a theory regarding the growth and disintegration of these civilizations. According to his analysis, history is governed by a law of nature. This law is based on what he terms, the ‘challenge-and-response’ mechanism. According to this theory, all the great civilizations were created by minority groups. A minority always comes under the influence of historical factors, which have a profoundly motivating effect upon it. This motivation enhances the minority community’s general capacities until it is finally recognized as the most creative segment of the country or region to which it belongs. All civilizations have been the culmination of the efforts and struggle of some such minority. This law of nature itself is not enough to make the