Governance systems for a humanising society, May 2024 discussion with Karima Kadaoui, Louis Klein, Michael Lerner (Alan Hudson’s notes – to share)

Framing (Tamzin Ractfliffe)

Polycrisis is a governance crisis
So we need different governance systems, for a humanizing society, to address the polycrisis
And those different governance systems need to enable/be expressions of love
Tamkeen Community Foundation described as “Moroccan Ubuntu”

Intro (Michael Lerner – revolutionary love)

Polycrisis or global problematique?

Shaped by crisis of governance (Louis Klein paper)
Shaped by mode of consciousness/lack of love

Navigating the polycrisis (Louis Klein)

Discussions of the polycrisis often miss out the human condition, and lived experience
Governance is key [not a new idea!]
The promise of systems science is one of wholeness, which relates to humanness/humanity, and to agency

Karima

A love-based approach (Tamkeen)
Lack of talk about love reflects a worldview of separation
Tamkeen Community Foundation is about learning together
Early anecdote re violence: “Nothing has changed, but everything has changed”
“we realize that in that finite self that has limits we are infinite when we come together in our shared humanity, and that connection is an expression of love” (21:58)
“So when we reflect in that mirror that we call Tamkeen, we recognize and by recognizing we realize, we realize the beauty that we have in our systems, in our societies and in our communities. And by realizing, we realize it” [nice double meaning/use of realize by Karima Kadaoui!] (also 22:10)
My thinking re “if you act as if love is the most important thing in the universe, you help to make it so”.
Learning how to see things differently, to see things that currently can’t be seen. And then to bring awareness to them, to nurture the good, with love and trust.
“Co-creating conditions for widening the gaze”.

Louis

Is asked question about central place of consciousness, in a panpsychic kind of way
Asks whether we can take on board consciousness/values/purpose as being part of the system
His take on this leans on phenomenology and hermeneutics
Both systems science and wisdom traditions are about the promise of wholeness (and are about, perhaps, consciousness)
“unity of what is and what could be” is meaning. Luhmann. That is, that what could be/what might be is immanent in what is.

Michael

Healing is based in love

Karima

Crisis means a decisive point
Healing is about wholeness and remembrance

Others

Indra Adnan

Love may be a stretch for some. What prior actions can be take to open up the possibility of love?
Also, about keeping things real, rather than abstract. More Arendt than Heidegger.
Karima: Words/communication/imagination in a biopoetic process

Chantri

Is governance a necessary condition for consciousness?
Might the Tamkeen process be very Moroccan context/specific?

Walter

Concerns re monocausal logic (love -> governance -> address polycrisis) for such a multifaceted and complex set of issues
Is this addressing people’s real and immediate needs? (Rakesh Rajani convo echoes)
“the sequence of our analysis we are coming from a multifaceted really big pile of problems, into “we need love” and I think the problem I have with that is that actually we’re going from a complex system … from a review of complex systems, into something that is abstracted into something that is ephemeral, into something that actually helps poor people that we are supposed to support really in the day-to-day life … not very much” (56:00)

Karima

Governance as navigating with wisdom (from the Arabic)
How can societies be an expression of humanity and love?
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