Emergent Strategy — a new paradigm for systems thinking?

The following set of stories comprises a series for GCHB 7200, Fall 2020.

As a systems thinker with a dash of approbation for anarchist thought, I find myself constantly questioning the ways in which we — individuals, communities, societies, and nations — operate and why we fail to lean into innovation and opportunity. (For instance: why, despite knowing that it is inherently flawed and antagonistic, do we continue to only operate on a two-party system for American elections? Of course, there is the problem of institutionalization and the “powers that be,” but if given a viable third option, would you actually cast your vote in their favor?)

Our systems work exactly as intended: the criminal “justice” system continues incarcerating, which continues lining the pockets of private prisons, which allows private prisons to continue encouraging the government to contract for even more prisons. Politicians, bought out by oil and gas companies, continue to flail belly-up, denying restrictions or outright bans on extractive practices that harm communities, with allows further exploitation and even more brazen attacks against citizens and their lands. Profit-centered businesses and organizations, determined to win capitalism, overwork their employees and deny their workers’ humanity (despite being given effective personhood via Citizens United).

My questions, then, as a progressive feminist anti-racist standing and residing on stolen land are: when did we forget our humanity and how do we deconstruct the systems that promote profits over people; how do we integrate ancestral and natural knowledge with “modern” science; where does spirituality intersect with corporate goals (if it can); how can rest be reinvited into our schedules; and with whom can we build power to topple the tower of capitalism and oligarchy?

These questions and more, I hope, will be answered in Emergent Strategies. My desire is to learn a new way of organizing and existing within the social justice sphere, so that we may not only build power but also rest and be in our full humanity.

For an amazing overview on Emergent Strategy by adirenne maree brown, see the video below:

Note: Within each post, I hope to host a list of definitions, concepts, and ideas. Linked to many of these items will be articles relating to current events that exemplify the lessons learned that week.