InstItute studIes In Global ProsPerIty

For

Reflections on Governance
14 April 2010

At this critical juncture in history, the development of more just, responsible, and effective approaches to governance has become a vital imperative. Advances have undoubtedly been made in the governance of large, complex, democratic societies. Yet these advances have generally failed to deliver on the promise of a more peaceful, just, and prosperous world. Despite the sincere intentions and tireless efforts of many devoted public servants, the corrupting influences of ambition, money, and power are endemic in all nations. As a result, public distrust and disillusionment are widespread. Moreover, in an age of ever-increasing social and ecological interdependence, existing systems of governance are proving incapable of effective long-term planning and cross-border coordination despite a groundswell of civil society organizations offering to partner in such efforts. In short, inherited models of governance are unable to meet the immediate challenges, and guide the long-term progress, of human civilization. The purpose of this working document is to invite dialogue and reflection on the common challenges that face all people who are actively working to advance the cause of good governance. The thoughts offered here arise from the Institutes decade-long efforts to generate systematic learning and gain new insights, in collaboration with others, about issues of pressing global concern including the issue of governance. Many of the specific insights conveyed in this document are drawn from the accumulated practical experience of the world-wide Bah community which, for over a century, has been systematically working to develop and implement new approaches to local, national, and international governance, rooted in a recognition of the spiritual dimension of human existence, and drawing on the methods of scientific learning. These insights generated so far invite a fundamental rethinking of many inherited assumptions regarding democratic governance. Developing social practices and constructing social institutions and that advance good governance will demand profound changes not only in the minds and hearts of people but also in the structures of society. The discussion below attempts to identify some of the challenges associated with such change, and to raise corresponding questions for reflection and consultation. The discussion begins with an overview of several core principles that inform the Institutes current thinking on

governance. The discussion then considers how these principles might be applied within three areas of governance-related practice.

Core Guiding Principles

The Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity has identified three sets of principles that can inform a broad framework for rethinking governance at this critical juncture in history. These principles are unity and interdependence, justice and equity, and collective trusteeship, each of which is elaborated below. Unity and Interdependence The defining characteristic of this stage of human history is intensifying global interdependence. Under these conditions, adversarial forms of social organization are proving anachronistic. Attempts to advance human prosperity and well-being can no longer ignore this reality. The harmonization and coordination of human activities on local, national, and global levels is now imperative for human progress. Within this context, it appears that approaches to governance at all levels will need to be informed by the principle of the oneness of humanity if they are to be effective. The insight that humanity constitutes a single people, with shared interests and aspirations, appears deceptively simple, yet it constitutes a fundamental challenge to inherited assumptions and practices in the field of governance. Much like the human body, the increasingly interdependent body of humanity is composed of diverse elements whose well-being can only be achieved through integration and coordination. No cell or organ lives apart from the human body, and the well-being of each cell derives from the well-being of the whole. At the same time, it is the unity and interdependence of the bodys diverse cells and organs that permits the full realization of the distinctive capacities inherent in each. The organic unity that is implied by this analogy has profound implications for the structures and processes of governance within communities at all levels. These implications can be appreciated by considering the function of power in human affairs. Governance has frequently been characterized by self-interested and competitive expressions of power. Such expressions may have played a role in advancing aspects of human development among powerful social groups whose interests they primarily served. Yet these adversarial expressions of power are proving maladaptive under conditions of heightened social and ecological interdependence, in which the welfare of every individual and group is increasingly dependent on the welfare of the entire social body. These conditions call for the development of new modes of governance at all levels, embodying the unifying and mutualistic exercise of power. The oneness of humanity, and the mutualistic exercise of power that is associated with this principle, have profound implications for governance. The implications for gender equality provide a vital illustration. Even though the well-being of women and men is inseparably linked, women throughout the world continue to be excluded from significant decision-making processes within the home, within their local communities, and within national and international arenas. The consequence of this exclusion is that the experiences, insights, and concerns of half the population are systematically marginalized in many decision-making processes. Only when both genders

InstItute For studIes In Global ProsPerIty Reflections on Governance

contribute equally to the governance and coordination of human affairs, at all levels, will communities truly advance and prosper. The full inclusion and empowerment of women, within systems of governance, is thus an essential expression of the principle of oneness. Likewise, the same principles of inclusion and empowerment apply to the full range of human diversity, such as the rich ethnic and cultural diversity that constitutes an indispensable resource for just governance and collective decision making. As the preceding comments suggest, unity does not imply uniformity within a social body. On the contrary, it is the diversity of the component parts of an organic body that permits the full realization of its collective capacity. Within human societies, diversity is a source of collective capacity, creativity, productivity, resilience, innovation, and adaptation. Only when diverse segments of human society contribute equally to the governance of human affairs, within a unified and coordinated framework, will real prosperity and well-being be achieved. These principles and insights, however, are only a starting point for inquiry into good governance. What are the practical implications of these principles and insights for the structure and selection of leadership and authority in systems of governance? What are the practical implications for process of collective decision making, for the effective implementation of decisions, and for reflective learning from implementation? And what are the practical implications for the training and education of citizens and public servants, which will be needed to support such structures and processes? Justice and Equity Justice and equity are a primary means by which unity can be maintained within an interdependent social body. At the individual level, each human being is endowed with the capacity for fair-mindedness, which enables one to distinguish justice and equity in interactions and relationships with others. At the group level, a concern for justice and equity is the indispensable compass in collective decision making. It is the sole means by which unity of thought and action can be achieved and sustained. In the design and implementation of plans, programs, and policies, only those that are just and equitable can hope to engage the commitment and lasting support of communities. The implications for governance can again be appreciated by considering the function of power in human affairs. When governance is cast as a contest of power it results in relations of paternalism at best, or domination, oppression, and exploitation at worst. This is because contests of power inherently set one segment of society against another. The outcomes of such contests are then determined by the distribution of power within society, which sets those who win over those who lose. Adversarial expressions of power thus lead to injustice and inequity because, through the game of interest-group competition, the interests and aspirations of the most powerless social groups tend to be subordinated to the narrowly perceived self-interests and directives of the most powerful. Again, these principles and insights serve only to open up lines of inquiry into good governance. What are their practical implications in the domain of leadership and authority? What are their practical implications in the domain of collective decision making, implementation, and reflective

InstItute For studIes In Global ProsPerIty Reflections on Governance

learning? And what are their practical implications for the training and education of citizens and public servants? Collective Trusteeship Since humanity is one, each member of the human race is born into the world as a trust of the whole and, in turn, each person bears a responsibility for the welfare of all humanity. This collective trusteeship constitutes the moral foundation of most human rights. Safety from harm, the security of the family and the home, the ownership of some forms of property, and the right to certain forms of privacy, can all be derived from this principle of trusteeship, as can obligations on the part of the community to provide opportunities and means for education and employment, mental and physical health care, basic social security, fair wages, rest and recreation, and a host of other reasonable expectations which ensure that individual members of the social body can realize their potential. The principle of collective trusteeship also supports the right of every person to expect that those cultural conditions essential to his or her identity are protected. Much like the role played by the gene pool in the biological life of humankind, the immense wealth of cultural diversity that characterizes humanity is vital to the social and economic development of the human race and to the achievement of prosperity and well-being for all people. It represents a heritage that must be permitted to bear its fruit in this age of interdependence. In the context of governance, this means, among other things, that diverse cultural expressions must be enabled to interact with and enrich one another, free of manipulation for partisan political ends. Again, this can only be achieved through the mutualistic exercise of power, with the full inclusion and partnership of both genders and all social groups. And again, these insights serve only as a starting point for practical inquiry.

Key Areas of Practices

In order to translate these guiding principles into a practical framework for good governance, the Institute has identified three areas of governance-related practice upon which it is currently focusing its attention. These areas of practice have already been alluded to in questions posed above. They are: the structure and selection of leadership and authority; processes of collective decisionmaking, implementation, and reflective learning; and training and education for governance. The Structure and Selection of Leadership and Legitimate Authority In an interdependent social body, effective structures of leadership and authority are essential for the management of resources, the formulation of coherent goals and plans, and the coordination of collective actions. Such structures must balance the benefits of centralized coordination on issues that require it, against the vitality and commitment that is achieved when decisions are made in the most localized ways possible. The effectiveness of such structures, in turn, depends largely upon the nature of the processes by which leaders are selected and authority is legitimately conferred. When these processes are characterized by the competitive pursuit of power, the results tend to be divisive at best, oppressive at worst, for reasons alluded to above. In addition, for reasons that have been elaborated by others, contests of power invite the corrupting influences of money, diminish the inclusion and participa-

InstItute For studIes In Global ProsPerIty Reflections on Governance

tion of diverse segments of society, reduce complex issues down to simplistic political platforms, ignore the well-being of people who are geographically distant, disregard the interests of future generations, and have a generally corrosive effect upon the human spirit. The competitive exercise of power within human governance has thus reached the limits of its effectiveness. In this context, the Institute seeks to advance knowledge and practical innovation regarding the structure and selection of leadership and legitimate authority. With regard to structure, the Institute is interested in institutional forms that are inclusive, collaborative, non-partisan, and mutually empowering. Such structures are not too difficult to create in small-group settings. But there is much to be learned about how to create such structures on larger scales, from the neighborhood or village, to the city, to the nation, to the community of nations. What might this look like in practice? Where can instructive models, or partial models, be found? What can be learned from historical experiments in this regard, and from mistakes of the past? What institutional codes spoken or written constitutions, laws, rules, and norms best support and enable the construction and maintenance of such institutional forms? With regard to the selection of leadership and the conferral of legitimate authority, it is helpful to distinguish between processes of election and processes of appointment, both of which serve important functions. In both contexts, how can processes be designed to yield positions of service and trusteeship rather than positions of privilege and paternalism? How can processes be designed to select individuals based on merit, proven capabilities, moral integrity, and spiritual qualities, rather than social connections, wealth and power, ego and opportunism, or rhetorical sophistication? And how can processes be designed for full inclusion of both genders and all social groups? Where can we find instructive models to learn from in this regard? With respect to electoral processes in particular, the Institute seeks to foster knowledge regarding processes that are unifying rather than divisive, collaborative rather than competitive, mutualistic rather than adversarial. In this context, how can electoral processes ensure that voters have real freedom of choice, exercised through secret ballot, free from external pressures, partisan filters, and media manipulations? How can we move beyond the theory and practice of partisanship, along with the entire apparatus of nominations, fund-raising, and campaigning that is associated with competitive forms of democracy and which invite corruption? How can we develop innovative alternatives that are essentially democratic in both spirit and practice, yet non-partisan and non-competitive? Where can we find instructive models to learn from? Processes of Collective Decision Making, Implementation, and Reflective Learning In an interdependent social body, prosperity and well-being are also dependent upon effective and mature processes related to collective decision making, implementation, and reflective learning. These closely related and cyclical processes enable communities to conceive plans, execute them, and adjust or refine them in light of practical experience. With regard to collective decision making, the Institute believes that conventional models of disputation and debate, rooted in partisanship and egoism, are proving inadequate to the complex challenges now facing interdependent communities. We therefore seek to advance knowledge and practical innovation regarding processes both within the formal institutions of governance

InstItute For studIes In Global ProsPerIty Reflections on Governance

and within more informal community and small-group settings that are unifying and mutually empowering. The Institute has observed that effective and mature decision-making processes of this kind require the sincere, systematic, and collaborative investigation of issues. Such processes are enriched by the participation of individuals who bring diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and insights to the table in a spirit of service, with a humble posture of detachment from preconceived ideas or interests. Such processes are informed by the gathering of relevant data as well as the solicitation of diverse frameworks for interpreting such data. Such processes are guided by the identification and application of moral or spiritual principles such as those discussed earlier in this paper. They are also responsive to input and feedback from the wider community, but are shielded from the manipulation and pressures of powerful and self-serving interest groups. At the same time, these processes can benefit from the input of experienced individuals, of proven moral integrity, who can illuminate consultation with the light of accumulated wisdom and spiritual insight. Effective and mature decision-making processes characterized by these traits enable groups to achieve coherence and focus, to formulate common goals, to manage collective resources, to promote strategies of community development and change, to win the good-will and support of all community members, to mobilize diverse talents and capacities within the community, and to foster a spirit of initiative and enterprise throughout the community. But these mature decisionmaking processes are not easily achieved in practice, and their attainment requires patience and a developmental perspective. How can such maturity be fostered and developed in the sphere of governance? In the context of formal, institutional decision making, special attention must also be paid to the processes of community input and feedback that inform effective decision making. In this regard, how can we design innovative processes of community consultation that are open, participatory, inclusive, and authentic? Community consultations have all too often been used by paternalistic governments as public relations exercises designed to create the illusion of public input, in order to legitimate policies and programs that have already been decided behind closed doors. Disingenuous practices such as these are symptoms of the culture of contest that renders government little more than an instrument of the paternalistic elites. In contrast, where genuine processes of community consultation exist, they provide responsive governing bodies with essential input and feedback mechanisms to inform their decision making. How can such processes be designed and conducted to include participants from all of the social groups that will be affected by the decisions being made? How can we ensure that such processes are unifying and mutually empowering? Where can we find instructive models to learn from? With regard to the implementation of decisions, even the best decisions can be undermined or sabotaged by the culture of conflict and protest that is so prevalent in the world today. Expressions of resistance and opposition to governing authority are, in part, predictable responses to the widespread corruption and injustice that frequently characterize the competitive exercise of power and authority. Hence the need for more just and mature processes for selecting leaders and making decisions, as discussed above, through which governing bodies can win the affection, trust, and support of those they have been called to serve. On the other hand, expressions of resistance and opposition at the stage of implementing decisions can also reflect the entrenchment of self-

InstItute For studIes In Global ProsPerIty Reflections on Governance

serving popular attitudes toward entitlements and interest-group competition. In the face of such egoistic and divisive popular attitudes, it is difficult to achieve coordinated collective action, upon which human prosperity and well-being depend. In this regard, how can we develop mature and constructive processes of community response and support, characterized by a spirit of learning in action, through which just and equitable decisions are implemented, assessed in practice, and refined if necessary, in a unified, coordinated, and mutually empowering manner? To be effective, the spirit of learning in action referred to above requires, in turn, that systematic processes be established for collective reflection on action, and on the decisions that guide action, so that learning can accrue over time and decisions can be adjusted or refined after implementation, in the light of experience. In this context, the Institute seeks to advance community-based approaches to learning in action. The defining characteristic of such approaches is the capacity for collective self-reflection on action or the capacity for systematic experimentation, analysis, assessment, and refinement of plans. This is no easy capacity to develop. Yet the capacity for selfreflective learning and inquiry is ultimately what empowers communities and ensures that their developmental plans and processes are sustainable, adaptive, and continually advancing. This empowering capacity is nothing short of the collective grassroots ability to apply the methods of systematic/scientific learning to the solution of community problems or what some have called the democratization of science. The Institute therefore sees this as one of the most important, but least well understood, aspects of community governance and development. How can we advance learning about this important but difficult area of collective practice? Training and Education for Governance The efficacy of the structures and processes referred to above depends, ultimately, on the values, qualities, and capabilities of the individuals who participate in them. In this regard, the Institute does not hold the romantic view that human beings will spontaneously rise to the high standards that mature structures and processes require. On the other hand, neither do we accept the view that human beings are incorrigibly corrupt, selfish, and aggressive, and therefore incapable of developing the mature attributes that effective governance requires. Human beings embody the potential for both egoism and altruism, conflict and cooperation. Which aspects of human nature are more fully developed and expressed depend largely on our cultural environment, including the training and education we receive. Human attributes, in other words, can be cultivated. Moreover, the Institute understands the relationship between individuals and social institutions as a dialectical relationship. Individuals develop within institutional contexts, even as the development of institutions depends upon the individuals that participate within them. Meaningful and lasting processes of social transformation must therefore attend simultaneously to the individual and institutional dimensions of change. In this context, the Institute seeks to advance knowledge and practical innovation regarding programs of moral, intellectual, and spiritual education that support effective governance. Such programs might focus on the cultivation of virtues such as trustworthiness, honesty, integrity, selflessness and humility. They might focus on the development of skills and capabilities, such as the capacity for self-expression, and the exercise of a mature etiquette of expression; the capacity to listen to others, and to draw out diverse views and insights from those who have not historically been given a voice; the capacity to suspend ones preconceived judgements and consider new perspectives with an open mind; the capacity to see diversity as a source of richness and strength;

InstItute For studIes In Global ProsPerIty Reflections on Governance

the capacity to apply the methods of systematic inquiry to the investigation of complex issues or problems; and the capacity to elevate discourse to the level of moral or spiritual principle, and then be guided by such principles in the formulation of decisions. Such programs might also educate people regarding the practical aspects of participation in specific processes of governance, such as how to elect leaders who embody the qualities needed for effective governance; how to organize and contribute to effective gatherings for community consultation; or how to make decisions with others in ways that are collaborative and principled. How can programs of education and training such as these be developed and implemented? Where can we find instructive examples to learn from? Other attributes that appear to serve processes of effective governance, and can be fostered through training and education, include a posture of learning and an orientation toward genuine truthseeking; a spirit of openness and inclusiveness in ones dealings with others; a work ethic characterized by the spirit of service to others; and an attitude of patience, flexibility, and resilience in the face of difficulties and set-backs. Above all, unifying and mutually empowering approaches to governance can only be developed when a climate of mutual trust and respect is cultivated, free of such harmful habits as backbiting, which poison the atmosphere within organizations and communities. Again, how can programs of education and training such as these be developed and implemented? And where can we find instructive examples to learn from?

Invitation to Dialogue, Inquiry, and Collaborative Action

In order to advance knowledge and innovation across the three broad areas of practice identified above, a series of additional questions can help to further frame and guide our efforts: To what extent are the protagonists of social advancement individuals, institutions, and communities guided by the principles of unity and interdependence, justice and equity, and collective trusteeship? How are individuals, institutions, and communities operationalizing these principles in the three areas of governance-related practice articulated above? How are individuals, institutions, and communities conceptualizing power? How are each of these protagonists operationalizing power in the three areas of governance-related practice articulated above? And finally, what motivates individuals, institutions, and communities to engage in, and refine, structures and processes of effective governance? From where do they derive meaning, purpose, will, commitment, and determination in this regard? This document has highlighted just a few of the most salient challenges and questions that will need to be addressed in efforts to advance the cause of good governance. While many other challenges can be identified, it is the hoped that reflection and consultation on the issues raised in this document will, in some small way, enrich contemporary discourse on governance.

Copyright 2010, Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity, Inc.

InstItute For studIes In Global ProsPerIty Reflections on Governance

About the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity The Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP) is a non-profit organization, dedicated to building capacity in individuals, groups and institutions to contribute to prevalent discourses concerned with the betterment of society. Drawing on both science and religion as two complementary systems of knowledge and practice, learning environments are created where knowledge and experience can be shared and systematized. Principles, concepts and approaches that are relevant to the advancement of civilization are explored through a process of study, reflection and consultation. Founded in 1999 - and working in collaboration with the Bah International Community - the Institute also engages in learning about the methods, approaches and instruments which can best be employed to contribute to the discourses of society. www.globalprosperity.org

InstItute For studIes In Global ProsPerIty Reflections on Governance