Bees Master Democracy: A Lesson for Human Politicians
Written on
Understanding Bee Democracy
In the fascinating world of bees, one can witness a truly functioning democracy within a beehive. When a hive becomes overly populated, it often needs to divide. The worker bees select a young larva and provide it with ample royal jelly to nurture it into a new queen.
Once the new queen is ready, half of the colony embarks on a quest for a new home. The old queen, having more experience, takes on the challenges of establishing this new location. However, a critical aspect of this journey is that all ten thousand bees must come to a unanimous decision regarding their new residence. Dr. Thomas Seeley from Cornell University notes that he has never observed a failure in achieving complete agreement during this tumultuous period.
Initially, chaos reigns as the bees seem disorganized. Yet, within moments, the mature bees step up to lead. The colony organizes itself into several hundred groups, each guided by an experienced worker. Upon discovering a potential new hive site, the leader begins a dance to communicate its quality.
The dance’s complexity corresponds to the location's desirability. If a site is mediocre, the dance is brief; if it’s an ideal spot — elevated, well-oriented, spacious, and secure — the leader performs a mesmerizing routine filled with intricate movements.
The younger bees, influenced by their leader's dance, replicate the movements. An extraordinary democratic process unfolds as leaders abandon their original sites to follow the group that dances with the most enthusiasm. Eventually, the entire colony rallies around the new home.
In a discussion with Robert Krulwich from NPR's Morning Edition, a hypothetical scenario arose: What if a scout bee stubbornly dances for a less favorable location? Dr. Seeley chuckled, explaining that in the realm of scouting bees, there are no overly persistent individuals who refuse to consider alternatives.
Section 1.1 The Dynamics of Hive Politics
After meticulous study, Dr. Seeley found that while a scout is dancing, she may defend her choice against interruptions. However, once the dance concludes, her bias fades. If a scout finishes a 300-move routine and observes another performing 400 moves, she is likely to shift her group to the superior site.
This demonstrates that bees are capable of objective reasoning, devoid of strong biases. Once decisions are made, there is no need for external regulation to prevent influence over votes, unlike many human political systems.
Subsection 1.1.1 The Implications for Human Society
The contrast with human politicians is striking. Often, they become too invested in particular causes. While it is essential for leaders to advocate passionately, the ability to prioritize collective outcomes over personal preferences is crucial.
Given today's complex political landscape, such idealism may seem unattainable. Nevertheless, nature offers a compelling example of effective democracy in action.
Chapter 2 Lessons from the Hive
Video Description: Dr. Tom Seeley discusses the fascinating democratic processes within honeybee colonies, illustrating their remarkable decision-making abilities.
Video Description: Explore what honeybees can teach us about democracy and decision-making, revealing insights applicable to human governance.