Univers 25 : Quand le paradis devient enfer – Une leçon pour l’Afrique (par Jules Aloïse Prospère Faye)
In the 1970s, the American biologist John B. Calhoun conducted an experiment that would have a lasting impact on thinking about societies: “Universe 25”.
His idea was simple but bold: to observe the behavior of mouse colonies placed in a perfect environment, an "artificial paradise." In a spacious, protected space, he installed everything rodents could dream of: abundant food, unlimited water, comfortable shelters, and total security. No predation, no stress, no danger. To begin the experiment, he introduced eight mice—four males and four females.
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Rapid growth… at the beginning
The first few months were a resounding success. The mice reproduced rapidly, and the population grew exponentially. By day 315, the colony already numbered several hundred individuals. Everything seemed to confirm that abundance and security were the keys to a harmonious and prosperous society.
But then unexpected phenomena appeared.
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Social degradation
When the population reached about 600 mice, new behaviors emerged:
• A pyramidal hierarchy was established, relegating certain individuals to subordinate roles, often rejected or attacked by others.
• Dominant males focused their aggression on the weaker ones, who isolated themselves and sank into a form of apathy.
• Some females stopped protecting their young, sometimes going so far as to abandon or attack them.
• Young people, without a role or place in a saturated society, became aggressive or, on the contrary, totally withdrawn.
• “Deviant” behaviors multiplied: cannibalism, hyper-aggressiveness, disorganized sexuality, even refusal to reproduce.
Gradually, the birth rate collapsed. Newborn mortality climbed to 100%. Males stopped defending females, and females stopped raising their young. Society entered a phase of total disorganization.
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Behavioral death
Despite the abundance of resources, the colony was heading for extinction. The last birth was recorded about two years after the experiment began. By 1973, all the mice had died.
Calhoun repeated the experiment 25 times, always with the same result: the complete and irreversible collapse of a society saturated with comfort.
He called this "behavioral death": when social roles dissolve, effort disappears, and individuals lose all purpose, society dies from within, without external aggression or scarcity.
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A parable for our African societies
Why recall this disturbing experience today? Because it brings us back to our own African realities.
Africa is not a resource desert. On the contrary, it has arable land, water, sunshine, minerals, oil, and a large and energetic youth population. Yet it still faces some disturbing paradoxes:
• Our fertile lands do not protect us from food dependency.
• Our mineral wealth does not benefit the majority.
• Our dynamic youth suffer from unemployment, rural exodus and illegal migration.
The risk is there: that the illusory comfort provided by international assistance, mining rents or easy imports creates an African universe where effort, innovation and social role lose their meaning.
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Take on challenges rather than seeking comfort
The lesson of Universe 25 is clear: a society that ceases to take on challenges, that is content to receive without producing, sooner or later condemns itself to internal collapse.
To avoid this trap, Africa must:
• Invest in food self-sufficiency through agriculture and agro-industry.
• Locally transform its raw materials to create wealth and employment.
• Encourage education, research and innovation in order to give a creative role to its youth.
• Promote good governance and a culture of accountability.
It is not abundance that guarantees prosperity, but the ability to transform resources into projects, challenges into opportunities, and dreams into concrete achievements.
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Conclusion
“Universe 25” is more than a scientific experiment on rodents: it is a mirror held up to humanity. For Africa, it is a warning. Effortless comfort leads to apathy, and apathy leads to collapse.
If we want to avoid "behavioral death," we must restore to our societies a taste for work, collective effort, and innovation. Africa's future depends not on what we receive, but on what we build together.
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Jules Aloïse Prospère Faye
Managing Director – STRATEGIA AFRICA
Commentaires (10)
En Afrique 🌍, il y a toutes les matières premières 🥇🛢️💎, sauf la matière grise.
Excellent article. Félicitations !!!
Vraiment c'est du charabia
Une arnaque le texte du gus, l'objectif : Calhoun étudiait la rupture des liens sociaux qui se produit en cas de surpopulation extrême ,
Le rédacteur est un faussaire qui a dénaturé l'expérience "Univers 25"....qui avait pour but d'étudier les effets de la surpopulation...
Un article utile qui doit pousser à méditer sur notre sort. Un vieux Italien me disait que si les jeunes occidentaux sont moins productif et ingénieux par rapport à leurs parents et grands parents, c'est parce qu'ils sont nés dans une époque où l'Europe est forte et riche. Mais eux qui sont nés dans des périodes difficiles ont impulsés le progrès!
Ce qui m’étonne c’est que nous senegalais sommes attirés par les conneries et les ragots.
Des articles utiles comme ça passent quasiment inaperçus car le niveau populaire est devenus execrable !
Un bel article qui appelle à une nécessaire introspection suivie d'un vrai sursaut.
Bravo à son auteur !
Un gars que j’ai vu sur youtube. Je le suis depuis un moment!
Une valeure sure a suivre de très près
Il n'a rien compris de l'ouvrage de Calhoun et confond pomme de terre et Angleterre.
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