Count Leo Tolstoy (1828 to 1910) said that all his thinking could be summarized on the basis that if corrupt people united then good people should do the same- that it was as simple as that!

In times of crisis there is often a fine line between great leadership and inadequate leadership, which with regard to the latter can actually compound an existing disaster. Alternately, it is often out of disaster that great leadership comes to the fore because more than adequate leadership is required.

The contemporary era is one of extraordinary transition and change due to the socio-economic impact of rapid and advanced social change. Social Action in terms of analysing situations past and present is essential if the world is going to positively adjust to profound change that is occurring.

A long standing and traditional theme in literature and culture is that determination always being a virtue because it is commensurate with a positive approach to promoting the common good. This perspective negates the fact that there have been too many instances of people and leaders throughout history who have been determined to overcome all obstacles in the pursuit of their self-interest.

Due to technological innovation the world is entering a period of potentially negative creative destruction where change results in less employment being generated. The contemporary context of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) could create a context in which negative creative destruction causes high levels of poverty and associated social crisis.