Integral Activism - Creating the 'We' space.

17 members

Description

For the movement to grow we need to find a shared meaning that is robust enough to bring all the voices together into a joyous song of protest and action. Integral Theory shows that a new way of being emerges when we are able to take multiple perspectives and include all the perspectives, allow a transformation to a greater depth of meaning. This new meaning brings a vibrancy and clarity to our shared meaning as we converge and create a new way of being. This group supports both an integral dialogue in how we create a shared meaning and an active space in which we can bring about change. You do not need to have any knowledge of integral theory; you only need an inquiring mind to address the question of how we create the culture space for the movement.

 

Comments Discussions Members

  • David Eggleton

    How is this group space different from the whole Occupy Cafe site?

    As we achieve the new way of being, what becomes of production and consumption?

    Nov 30, 2011

  • Gary Hawke

    Hi David

    Thanks for joining the group - let me offer the rational for the group. Last Saturday I ran an Integral session at the Occupy Sun Building in London, one issue that was raised by the group was how do we created a shared meaning amongst all the voices within the movement. I offered that Integral Theory might have an approach that could offer a way of supporting the creation of a shared meaning. It was then suggested that setting up a group within the cafe would give people a chance to explore a shared meaning and also provide a space for people with an interest in Integral Theory to share ideas. So in a way this group is not different from the cafe but understands that the cafe is about the creation of a cultural social space, one in which Integral Theory has, I believe, a voice to offer at the table in which it sits. 

    So using Integral Theory I am not really able to offer much about the Base (production) as I do not feel really qualified to speak into the space but the superstructure that drives our desire for consumption I might be able to speak too. If we recognise that what drives an element of culture is how we consume and that the base responds to that need, our culture has been meditated to change a want/desire into a need, then we need to change some of the superstructure rituals that have been created around what it means to be happy and content, fame, money, success, that latest iPad

    If we recognise not just the shared commons of our local community but that we are also part of the eco noetic community across the world and that we worked towards the share ecologic of all being content, happy and free, and that this ritual was expressed by all, then as the base response to the need of the superstructure we move to a more ecological sound life world for all.

    Now I understand that this might be an emergence that goes well beyond what we are able to achieve now, but if we do not start laying down the grove we will not change.

    I was at the London UK demonstration today, and that one thing I wanted was one voice but this did not happen, what I witnesses was many voice being drowned out by each other, and the police helicopters being the dominate sound. Imagine what would have happen if thousands of people were singing the same song each one recognising that within that song their activism is being heard, that would be a message to the UK government. As it is both the media and the government can pull out the voices they want to highlight the “anarchist” the “hoodie” the one looking like “Guy Fawkes”.

    So this group is a small space, in which people that want to, chat and discuss and create a new ritual.

    Gary

     

    Nov 30, 2011

  • David Eggleton

    That's helpful.  Thank you, Gary.

    Nov 30, 2011

  • David Eggleton

    What if the 'We' space was a great number of local economies?

    Dec 1, 2011

  • Gary Hawke

    This would need parsing through integral theory. A We space is the inter subjective expression of the group members as they engage with the economic structure. So you could have a form of monetary system where lets say coupons were exchanged for service. I understand that a number of local service in the uk have tried this. But it would mean that all the members of the collective that were engaging with the system would have to have shared meaning or a consensus to use the system, Integal calls this a nexus agency and the nexus angecy links with the functional fit of the system. This would lead to a shared internality code. Both community and system are sharing the same rules of engagement. So we would have one nexus agency (we space ) that would link to a local economic structure which would be part of a larger nexus agency/ functional fit allowing the population to move around from one community to another. The would see each smaller community/ economic system being part of a wider community/ economic system.

    Gary

    Dec 1, 2011

  • David Eggleton

    Yet another vocabulary!

    Is the assumption of mobility yours or integral theory's?  Who would hold any developing and stable traditions of being-in-place?

    Dec 1, 2011