Tri-Sector Partnership and Threefolding

Social change based upon a clear and modern cultural/spiritual perspective looks beyond the dualism reigning in an exclusively political approach, and promotes culturally-centered, globally sustainable development. Currently, policies affecting social welfare are promoted by government, or directed through economic and financial channels. Often, change with unforeseen, devastating consequences is promoted through a tacit alliance of political and economic sectors.

The growth of the non government organizations forming Civil Society offers an attractive alternative that more and more people are beginning to embrace.

In Civil Society we find a modern shaper of culture, of meaning and values that enshrine social justice, respect for the environment, for local cultures and human relationships. Civil society can influence and re-direct the political and economic sectors to their true functions, rather than being co-opted and subjugated by them.

Adding Civil Society to the government and business equation, moves away from strict dualism, towards “tri-sector partnerships” and ‘three-folding’.

Dualism is expressed in choices such as capitalism/socialism, orthodox and heathen, right/wrong, good and evil, in short all sets of opposition forces that are presently radicalizing. The growth of an independent cultural sector presents a way out of this sterile dualism.

The idea of a cultural sector emancipated from the political or economic sectors, was developed by Rudolf Steiner with the concept of the Threefold Social Order. Similar ideas are articulated by more and more modern authors and thinkers (see links below).

The emerging paradigm will deepen its hold on consciousness once we start experiencing this shift personally and among groups of people, by engaging in the new culture-making propositions of experiential spirituality, and choose to become “cultural/spiritual activists,” or “social process activists.” (See Experiential Spirituality)

Below are some of the tendencies that directly support tri-sector partnerships moving towards threefolding, by unlocking spaces of possibility for new thinking and new types of social action.



SOME BASIC RESOURCES ABOUT TRI-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS AND THREEFOLDING

Shaping Globalization: Civil Society, Cultural Power and Threefolding, Nicanor Perlas, 2000, CADI, Globenet 3, Quezon City, Philippines. In this book you will find ample reference to modern day three-sector partnerships, their promise and the present dangers to which civil Society is exposed. Book available through www.amazon.com For more information check www.cadi.ph

Interview of Nicanor Perlas by Otto Scharmer
http://www.presencing.com/projects/tc_interviews.shtml

The Renewal of the Social Organism, Rudolf Steiner, articles written in the years 1919-1920, Anthroposophic Press, Spring Valley, NY and Rudolf Steiner Press, London. Order through www.anthropress.org

Globenet3 Organization that advocates comprehensive sustainable development, an approach which addresses the ecological, economic, political, cultural, social, human, and spiritual aspects of development. As a network it also seeks to advance social threefolding, referring to either the resistance of civil society to totalitarian tendencies in the state and market or, where appropriate, the critical engagement of civil society with business and government to solve social problems in an atmosphere of principled cooperation and mutual respect. The basis for both the possibility of resistance or cooperation is the emergence of civil society as a third global force, joining the state and the market as the key social forces today that are shaping globalization. For more info see www.globenet3.org

Philippines Agenda 21 (PA21) is, arguably, the highest policy framework for civil society. In 1996 the leaders of more than 5000 organizations under the informal banner of the Asia Pacific Sustainable Development Initiatives (APSUD) rallied around PA21 as their framework for negotiations with government on Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Even those who questioned APSUD’s stance in APEC did not oppose PA21; rather they questioned the sincerity of government in carrying out the promises they made to have the Individual Action Plan (IAP) governed by PA21 (from www.cadi.ph/philippine_agenda_21.htm)

Think OutWord is a peer-led training in social threefolding for young adults that began in 2008 and is loosely situated in the northeastern United States. It is grounded in, though not limited to, an understanding of the threefold nature of the human being and of society, primarily as it was articulated by the early 20th century philosopher, Rudolf Steiner. Through the training, participants will gain deeper insight into contemporary social phenomena and explore different methods by which they can become increasingly engaged in socially transformative work (From www.thinkoutword.org/index.html)

NetworkM is an initiative to cultivate relationships for more effective social action. It wants to unite social and spiritual activists, progressive thinkers and doers, and creative people interested in finding a community. NetworkM wants to foster an inclusive dialog between various movements (social entrepreneurs, peacebuilders, e.g. the Waldorf movement, the anthroposophical movement, Nonviolent Communication, etc.). It offers online resources for events, news, information and networking for individuals and groups; enables people and initiatives to connect with and support each other; finally, it hosts regular Meetups and conferences. Find more at www.thenetworkm.net.



ABOUT THE EMERGENCE OF CIVIL SOCIETY AND THREATS TO ITS DEVELOPMENT

Global Civil Society: The Path Ahead (a draft discussion paper by David C. Korten, Nicanor Perlas and Vandana Shiva), http://www.cadi.ph/Features/Feature_12_CS_Path_Ahead.htm

For the work of Benjamin Barber www.benjaminrbarber.com



ARTICLES AND BOOKS ABOUT CULTURE-FOCUSED SOCIAL CHANGE

Global Consciousness Change: Indicators of an emerging Paradigm: Duane Elgin and Coleen LeDrew www.newhorizons.org/future/elgin1.htm

Through the Lens of Culture: Building Capacity for Social Change and Sustainable Communities: Patricia St. Onge, Breonna Cole and Sheryl Petty. (National Community Development Institute (NCDI), 2003) www.ncdinet.org/culturally-basedcapacitybuilding.htm

Spiritual Activism: Claiming the Poetry and Ideology of a Liberation Spirituality, convened by Stone Circles, friends and allies at the Garrison Institute, New York, June 23-26, 2005, a gathering report.

The Great Turning: from Empire to Earth Community, David Korten, 2006, Kumarian Press, Bloomfield CT. and Berrett-Koehler Publishers, San Francisco, CA. www.davidkorten.org/Books/greatturning.htm Article in yes magazine.



BRIDGING THE RIGHT-LEFT DIVIDE: ARTICLES, ORGANIZATIONS

Our Conservative Allies: Jonathan Rowe in Yes of Summer 2007. Article >

Civil Society Transcends Right-Left Gap: Severyn T. Bruyn, Christian Science Monitor, September 15, 2005 Article >

Let’s Talk America: Let’s Talk America is a nationwide movement that will bring Americans from all points on the political spectrum together in cafes, bookstores, churches and living rooms for lively, open-hearted dialogue to consider questions essential to the future of our democracy. Let’s Talk America reconnects with the ‘town hall’ meeting spirit that’s the lifeblood of our democracy.…Let’s Talk America is a meeting ground where we can come together to listen, speak, ask and learn -- without being forced to agree, change or bite our tongues. For more info see www.letstalkamerica.org

Democracy in America Project. Its purpose it is to convene – gather a “microcosm of America” (i.e. leaders/experts/citizens -- all points of view) in facilitated dialogue in small and large settings across America. www.democracycampaign.org

Transpartisan America. Transpartisanship is an emerging field that advocates pragmatic and effective solutions to social and political problems, transcending and including preexisting political ideologies…Transpartisan democracy, in part, seeks to reintegrate the public’s voice in identifying, debating, and shaping governmental policies, while continuing to protect the sovereignty of the individual. See www.transpartisan.net

Reuniting America. Its purpose: to engage large numbers of Americans in the process of authentic, healthy dialogue across differences; to model, in practice, the ideals of a democratic republic by facilitating cooperative, enduring, higher ground solutions to the challenges of our time; to welcome all pints of view to the same table with respect, safety and civility, at all levels of society, across the divides of geography, partisanship, religion, race, class and power. See www.democracycampaign.org

Department of Peace: Domestically, the Department of Peace will develop policies and allocate resources to effectively reduce the levels of domestic and gang violence, child abuse, and various other forms of societal discord. Internationally, the Department will advise the President and Congress on the most sophisticated ideas and techniques regarding peace-creation among nations. For more info see www.thepeacealliance.org



ORGANIZATIONS PROMOTING DIALOGUE AND/OR NEW FORMS OF LEADERSHIP

The National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation (NCDD)
Dialogue is a process that allows people, usually in small groups, to share their perspectives and experiences with one another about difficult issues we tend to just debate about or avoid entirely. Issues like racial disparities, youth violence and gay marriage.

Dialogue is not about winning an argument or coming to an agreement, but about understanding and learning. Dialogue dispels stereotypes, builds trust and enables people to be open to perspectives that are very different from their own. Dialogue can, and often does, lead to both personal and collaborative action. (from http://www.thataway.org/)

The Center for Wise Democracy
Although we’ve been teaching Dynamic Facilitation since 1990, it is still relatively new. It’s a social and organizational innovation that is beginning to take off! Dynamic Facilitation is a way to assure that time-constrained managers, ordinary citizens in public meetings, conflicted employees in team meetings, or family  members can speak their minds and hearts in a meeting, without being specially trained, and have it work out great. The dynamic facilitator structures the flow of conversation so each comment becomes an asset to the group, building shifts and breakthroughs. With Dynamic Facilitation skills you empower people to solve impossible-to-solve issues because you bring out a quality of thinking where they are creative and extraordinary. (from http://www.tobe.net/index.html)

The Mediators Foundation
Mediators Foundation was founded in 1987 to promote education, to address social issues of national and global importance, and to foster a better understanding of global cultures and values throughout the general public. From the beginning, Mediators Foundation has served as a catalyst organization, an incubator for new and innovative programs. From its earliest involvement in this process, the Foundation Board of Directors has assumed financial and conceptual responsibility for projects in which its president, Mark Gerzon, has been directly involved. Mediators will remain a flexible, nonbureaucratic organization concentrating its resources on one or two startup projects at a time. (from www.mediatorsfoundation.org)

The Public Conversations Project (PCP)
Our central objective is to avoid repeating unproductive debates and to develop new modes of communicating that lead to mutual understanding, respect, and trust. This reduces the costly effects of conflict and creates new possibilities for change. (from www.publicconversations.org)

The Berkana Institute
The Berkana Institute serves people globally who are giving birth to new forms, processes and leadership that will restore hope to the future. Since 1992, Berkana has gradually expanded its work to reach pioneering leaders and communities in all types of organizations and in dozens of nations. (from www.berkana.org)

The Collective Wisdom Initiative at Fetzer Institute (www.fetzer.org)
This website has been created to help make visible an emerging field of collective wisdom, its study and practice. It came into being in 2002 with support of the Fetzer Institute and has evolved to the form you see today by the support and contributions of hundreds of people and organizations who have, for decades, been actively engaged in this field. (from www.collectivewisdominitiative.org/index.htm)

Society for Organizational Learning
SoL, the Society for Organizational Learning, is an intentional learning community composed of organizations, individuals, and local SoL communities around the world. A not-for-profit, member-governed corporation, SoL is devoted to the interdependent development of people and their institutions in service of inspired performance and meaningful results. SoL serves as a space in which individuals and institutions can create together that which they cannot create alone. (from www.solonline.org)

Presencing Institute
The Presencing Institute (PI) is a global community of initiatives, institutions and individuals who apply and advance the U process of presencing in order to collectively create profound innovation and change. The presencing process is a journey that connects us more deeply both to what wants to emerge in the world and to our highest future possibility—our emerging authentic self.

The PI community focuses on refining and co-creating the presencing technology and making it available to change makers, innovators, and communities around the world. We work together on a variety of projects and offer capacity-building programs through inexpensive Global Classroom sessions (twice a year) as well as through 3-4 day Presencing Foundation Programs in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. (from http://www.presencing.com)

AmericaSpeaks
AmericaSpeaks’ mission is to reinvigorate American Democracy by engaging citizens in the public decision-making that most impacts their lives. Since our founding in 1995 by Dr. Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer, AmericaSpeaks gives citizens an authentic voice in local, regional and national decision-making on the most challenging public issues of the day. We are a nonpartisan organization based in Washington, D.C.




NEW CULTURALLY-BASED APPROACHES TO SOCIAL CHANGE

Favela Rising documentary at www.favelarising.com, documenting the work of social transformation of Afro Reggae in Rio de Janeiro’s shanty towns.

Read an excerpt from the book at yesmagazine.org/article.asp?ID=1735

See article about horizontalism in whywar.com/news/2005/07/26/horizont.html

See also Excerpt from A Revolution of Hope Excerpt >

See Blog Entry >

 

Gaviotas (Colombia)
Undeterred by the daunting political upheaval of his country, in 1971 Paolo Lugari led a group of visionary scientists to experiment with and develop alternative technology for the llanos – the barren savanna – of Eastern Colombia. After almost 40 years Las Gaviotas has gone through many internal changes, survived and offered a model of sustainable development for the whole region, and an inspiration for the rest of South America. Over time the scientists, teachers and artists that responded to Lugari’s call, developed and created an array of technological innovations, ranging from solar ovens to clay irrigations systems, windmills and pumps, water filters, etc. However, it was what started as a secondary concern that revealed itself Gaviota’s most successful discovery.

By introducing stands of the Caribbean Pine (Pinus Caribea) – which does not reproduce in the savanna – Gaviotas discovered that the tropical forest started regenerating in the undergrowth over the years. The regenerated rainforest offers natural solutions to the problems that plague the region, restoring productivity, water quality, thus improving health. At present the population has free access to water of drinking quality, and health has improved to such an extent that the region registers the best health indexes of the country. Surplus water, sold in Bogota, competes in the market with Evian and Fiji.

By 1998 Las Gaviotas had completed an 8000 ha reforestation project and inaugurated a movement of restoration that continues to the present. The exploitation of the forest brings new, sustainable economic activity and income for a growing number of residents.

The story of Gaviota’s success is documented by Alan Weisman in Gaviotas: A Village to Reinvent the World

See www.homelands.org/articles/gaviotas.html to purchase the book

The United Nations has called Gaviotas a "model for the developing world." and gave it its 1997 World Prize in Zero Emissions. See article from Zeri (Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives): www.zeri.org/resources_rainforest.htm

 

Zapatista Movement, Chiapas, Mexico

For General Information see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapatista_Army_of_National_Liberation

Documentary: A Place Called Chiapas: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0145394

A Place Called Chiapas is a Canadian documentary of first-hand accounts of the Ejercito Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN) the (Zapatista Army of National Liberation or Zapatistas) and the lives of its members and the people who support them. Director Nettie Wild takes the viewer to rebel territory in the south west Mexican state of Chiapas, where the EZLN live and evade the Mexican Army.

For a larger perspective on the situation in Chiapas and its links with the globalization agenda see the documentary Zapatista.

With exclusive access and interviews with Subcomandante Marcos, Noam Chomsky and others, Zapatista is the definitive look at the Zapatista uprising, its historical roots and its lessons for the present and the future. Zapatista is the definitive look at the uprising in Chiapas. It is the story of a Mayan peasant rebellion armed with sticks and their word against a first world military. It is the story of a global movement that has fought 175,000 federal troops to a standstill and transformed Mexican and international political culture forever. (From http://bignoisefilms.org/films/features/90-zapatista)

United Nations Global Compact
The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. By doing so, business, as a primary agent driving globalization, can help ensure that markets, commerce, technology and finance advance in ways that benefit economies and societies everywhere.  

Australia’s Citizen’s Parliament: February 2009
Australia’s first Citizens’ Parliament has now been concluded. One hundred and fifty people, randomly selected from across Australia, have spent four days discussing and deliberating on our democracy and how it could be improved.After two and a half days of deliberation and many months of preliminary discussions, anecdotal evidence is already showing that Australians not part of the political establishment can show the world how to get the best out of collective decision making.  The 150 Citizens’ Parliamentarians came to Old Parliament with 11 proposals to discuss.  After listening to others ideas as well as those of expert panellists, this was expanded to 47 and included everything from a Bill of Rights to having publicly funded media and banning paid political advertisements.  

Sustainable Food Laboratory
The Sustainable Food Lab is a consortium of 70 businesses and social organizations from three continents.  The mission of the Sustainable Food Lab is to accelerate the shift of sustainable food from niche to mainstream in order to ensure a healthy future for the planet and its people.