Masterclass with Sandeep Dutt
Discussing the evolving nature of war and its 21st-century consequences.
Key Takeaways
War’s declining utility: Major powers find war unprofitable. Modern wealth is knowledge-based (e.g., Silicon Valley), not material assets (e.g., gold mines), making it immune to conquest.
Economic power as the new conquest: China’s rise through economic means, not military action, is the new model for global influence.
Russia’s limited strategy: Russia’s military actions are defensive reactions to NATO expansion, not imperial drives. Its strategy is “pick on the weakest kid,” as it lacks the economic and ideological power for a full-scale conflict.
High-damage, low-profit conflict: Nuclear weapons and cyber warfare offer immense destructive power but no path to profitable empire-building, making them a deterrent to large-scale war.
Humility as a Solution: Humility is proposed as the key to countering nationalistic tensions that drive conflict, replacing rational but flawed calculations with a focus on the larger social good.
“Read and Lead” Rebrand: The school alliance is now “Read and Lead,” a community focused on reading for leadership. The first conference is set for July 24, 2027.
New Foundation Board: The Learning Forward Foundation has a new, diverse board, including Amrita Burman (Sunbeam Schools), Dr Ram Sharma (UPES), Dilip Chenoy (World Skills), and Jugjiv Singh (My Good School), signalling broader strategic direction.
My Good School Retreat: A 69-person retreat is underway, reading a book on humility. Participants (75% Sunbeam, 25% external) will create 12 flip charts of reflections.
The Declining Utility of War
War’s historical role as a profitable tool for elites has ended.
Past Successes (1914 Model):
Imperial Japan: Rose to power by defeating China and Russia.
Germany: Became Europe’s top power after defeating Austria-Hungary and France.
Britain: Built its empire through “splendid little wars” (e.g., conquering Egypt with only 57 casualties).
USA: Gained vast territory (California, Texas, etc.) from Mexico in 1846 for a low cost (13,000 casualties).
Modern Failures (2018 Model):
Major powers no longer know how to wage successful wars.
USA: Trillions spent on “humiliating military fiascos” in Iraq and Afghanistan.
China: Achieved global influence solely through economic factors, avoiding armed conflict since 1979.
Iran: Gained regional hegemony by default after the US destroyed its main rival, Iraq.
Israel: Its last successful war was in 1967; subsequent conflicts have been economic burdens.
Russia’s Limited Strategy
Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea was a rare success, but it was due to unique circumstances (no resistance, no international intervention) that are hard to replicate.
Attempts to repeat this success in eastern Ukraine led to a costly stalemate and turned Ukraine into an enemy.
Russia’s Strategy → “Pick on the weakest kid and don’t beat him up too much, lest the teacher intervenes.”
Rationale: Russia views its military actions as defensive reactions to NATO expansion, which it sees as a violation of post-Cold War agreements.
Limitations:
Economic: GDP is $4T, dwarfed by the USA ($19T) and EU ($21T).
Technological: It lacks a strong civilian IT sector and relies on natural resources.
Ideological: Lacks a universal ideology (unlike the USSR’s communism) to build international blocs.
The New Nature of Conflict
Economic Shift: The global economy is now knowledge-based, not material-based.
Old Model: Conquer land, loot cities, seize resources.
New Model: Knowledge (e.g., Apple, Google) cannot be conquered by force.
Nuclear Deterrence: Nuclear weapons make direct superpower conflict a “collective suicide,” forcing them into low-stakes proxy wars.
Cyber Warfare: Brings conflict directly to the aggressor’s home front (e.g., disrupting air traffic, power grids), eliminating the safety of distance.
Learning Forward Initiatives
“Read and Lead” Rebrand:
The school alliance is now a community focused on reading for leadership.
First Annual Conference: July 24, 2027.
Annual Day Philosophy:
A recent Substack post outlined the purpose of school annual days.
Goal: Boost child self-esteem through participation and celebration.
Focus Areas: Social acceptance, skill competence, physical appearance, and character (effort/generosity).
Learning Forward Foundation Board:
A new, diverse board has been formed.
My Good School Retreat:
Location: Sunbeam School, Suncity Campus.
Host: Sunbeam Grameen School.
Participants: 69 total (75% Sunbeam Group, 25% external, including Lotus Petal, PYDS, Janku Devi School).
Activity: Reading a book on humility and creating reflections.
Outcome: 12 flip charts of stories will be generated by 5–6-person groups.
Next Steps
Sandeep Dutt: Share the phrase “pick on the weakest kid...” in the group chat.
All Participants: In the chat, indicate whether you own a copy of the book to help plan the next session.
Sandeep Dutt:
Lead next session (Nov 21, 2026) on humility (Chapter 12).
Publish a Substack post on the My Good School Retreat this Wednesday.
Khushieee:
Share session reflections in the WhatsApp group.
All Participants:
Sign up for the “Read and Lead” newsletter.
Read the “Annual Day” Substack post.
