You May Have to Hide Your Wife, and Hide Your Kids, but You Still Can Learn from Genghis Khan

Summary

The Unconventional Wisdom of Genghis Khan: Positive Lessons for the Modern World

In the grand tapestry of history, Genghis Khan doesn’t exactly come to mind as a hallmark of positivity, especially if your village was on his equine GPS. He was certainly not a harbinger of security whether locally or globally. And states, and national security as we know them today did not exist. But, let's saddle up and gallop through history with a bit more nuance. There are, believe it or not, some gleaming nuggets of geopolitical and security threat (whether you want to make them or defend against them) wisdom to be gleaned from this 13th-century Mongolian master.

1. Embrace Diversity, But Keep the Saddle on Tight
Genghis Khan’s army was the Benetton ad of the medieval military world. He integrated soldiers from different cultures, religions, and backgrounds. This wasn’t just for show; it was a masterstroke in building a robust, adaptable army. As they were conquering new people, the Mongols absorbed the conquered people's men if they had surrendered - willingly or otherwise. As they expanded into further areas and conquered other people, their troop numbers increased. Almost like a network and scaling effect. Today’s lesson? Embrace diversity, but not in the “let’s hold hands and sing” way. It's about recognizing the strength in differences, leveraging varied perspectives to create a more cohesive and innovative approach to solving international problems. A bit like making a big salad, but with less lettuce and a lot more swords. And please don’t use the Mongol tactic of the kharash –gathering prisoners captured in previous battles, then driving them forward in sieges and battles. These human "shields" would often take the brunt of enemy arrows and crossbow bolts, thus somewhat protecting the ethnically Mongol warriors.1

2. The Art of Communication: Smoke Signals to Wi-Fi
The Mongol Empire stretched from the Pacific to Europe, a feat that makes managing a WhatsApp group look like child’s play. Genghis Khan’s secret? Exceptional communication. He established a sophisticated postal system, the “Yam”, something like a medieval version of the American Pony Express and later FedEx, without the tracking numbers and cellphone notifications. “The idea that war often creates new services was completely true with the Mongol war communications. The system that was created specifically for the Khans and large unit leaders to communicate while at war at long distance, eventually turned into a service that merchants, traders and all other types of people piggybacked onto.” 2 Sound familiar? In today’s digital world, the lesson is clear: effective communication is key to managing sprawling, diverse entities. Whether it’s diplomatic relations or multinational corporations, ensuring information flows and feedback as smoothly as a Mongol messenger in the steppes is vital.

3. Adaptability: More Than Just Changing Your Hat
Genghis Khan didn’t adhere to “but we’ve also done it this way” methods; he adapted. He incorporated new technologies and strategies from conquered peoples, constantly innovating his military tactics. The geopolitical and security takeaway? Be adaptable. In a world where the only constant is change (and an occasional pandemic), nations need to be as flexible as a Mongol archer in a saddle at full gallop. This means being open to learning from others, adapting policies, and maybe not invading Russia in the winter.

4. Meritocracy: Because Incompetence Shouldn’t be a Family Tradition
In the Khan’s army, you mostly rose through the ranks based on ability, not because you were his third cousin twice removed. This meritocratic approach ensured that the best and brightest led his troops, a stark contrast to the nepotism-filled corridors of inbred family alliances and power in medieval Europe. Today, promoting talent over titles can lead to more efficient and effective governance. In other words, make sure the person leading the charge isn’t just there because they won the genetic lottery or “knew a guy”.

5. Globalization: The Original Silk Road
Genghis Khan was globalization personified. He and his successors created one of the largest empires in history, (and an astounding number of descendants, by the way!) connecting East and West. This increased trade, cultural exchange, and, yes certainly, more than a fair bit of looting and pillaging. Our modern world continues to grapple with the complexities of globalization. The Khan’s era reminds us that while global interconnectedness brings challenges, it also creates opportunities for technological exchange, economic growth, and cultural interaction. But, hopefully, without the whole conquering thing.

6. Environmental Awareness: More Than Just Loving Trees
Plot twist: recent studies suggest that the Mongol invasions led to massive reforestation, as agricultural land returned to forest, inadvertently reducing carbon in the atmosphere.3 While we shouldn’t take this as an endorsement of empire-building as a climate change solution, it does highlight an interesting point about the unintended environmental impacts of human actions. It suggests that today’s policies should consider long-term environmental consequences. Perhaps less about conquering and more about conserving. “Climate refugees” have become real in 2023.

While Genghis Khan’s methods and morals belong firmly in the “Do Not Try This at Home” category, his legacy offers several intriguing lessons for our modern global security and diplomacy. Embracing diversity, effective communication, adaptability, meritocracy, understanding globalization, and considering environmental impacts are just as relevant today as they were in the 13th century – minus the Mongolian horseback archery, of course. Next time you think of Genghis Khan, remember: even history’s “bad guys” can teach us a thing or two. Just keep your village well-armed and the gates locked, just in case.

1 Stone, Zofia (2017). Genghis Khan: A Biography. Vij Books India Pvt Ltd. ISBN 9789386367112.

2 Mongol War Communications
https://www.warriorsandlegends.com/mongol-warriors/mongol-war-communications/

3 Genghis Khan was an Eco Warrior and Reduced Carbon Emissions… In Brutal Ways
https://historycollection.com/genghis-khan-was-an-eco-warrior-and-reduced-carbon-emissions-in-brutal-ways/2/