Re: <nettime> Brexit democracy

I'm following this whole thread with great interest and feel that I could add a few synthesizing comments from a strategic designer's perspective. These designers are usually hired to be less concerned with the creation of the perfect, shiny object but more with shaping the structures culture enfolds upon, such as policies, laws, organizational structures, and sooner or later maybe even world views. To be able to do this they evolved a toolbox of practices that could also be very useful for the progressive causes.

THE STRATEGIC DESIGNER'S METHOD
Look at the problem from as many perspectives possible by using different lenses (e.g. control/power, environment, material impact, capital or symbolic value), identify the desired outcome and the (contextual) leverage points that can be modulated to force the system to adapt to reach the outcome. Derive of your findings the guiding principles, strategies, and tactics. After the initial assessment apply an iterative process of build (implementation of tangible or non-tangible artifacts that should change the system), measure (observe the system's reaction to your artifacts), learn (reassess you strategies and tactics) until your system has reached your desired state. The active involvement in the implementation of the tangible artifacts (a sustainable chair, a co-op housing project, an advocacy group, an animal wellfare NGO, ...) and the conscious use of them as potential trigger for systemic change make out of a designer and a strategist a strategic designer.

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
We're facing a wicked problem, a complex system of systems that is at the brink of collapse, while none of this is directly experiential for individuals (also the system's response to individual actions is often not directly felt). We are bound to the path-dependency of the current socio-economic system, the capitalocene. No alternative cultural, sociological, political, or technological infrastructure on which a global system could run after a hard reboot (such as a revolution) is readily available (but partially working prototypes and a history of successful and failed "tests" are). Involvement of multiple stakeholders with different interests, involvement, power, or influence, which are deeply influenced by cultural, psychological, and physiological biases and therefore not necessarily act rational. A general feeling that general we are loosing control, that something needs to be done, that maybe event the end is nigh.

THE SOLUTION
??? ... There is probably not "one". But to find one, and as also voiced here on the list, we need to see our post-human, Anthropocene, climate changed, ... mess in a new light and that would require a paradigm shift. This new perspective would define the new normal, sets the cultural default values, and would be the base on which we derive all our laws, policies, and many of our unreflected daily actions. Paradigms don't shift suddenly, only the heavily biased post-hoc interpretation of the general awareness makes us often believe that, but are created with the hard work of many thoughts and hands. A paradigm shifts on mental and physical stepping stones, the critical infrastructure already built, the structures, patterns, and habits that are needed so an existing paradigm can tumble into to become a new one.

Following this list in the last month, and this conversation is a good example, I see that there are many good hearted specialists at work. Probably we are all most comfortable wearing our familiar spectacles (looking at things through the lens of control, affect, or the precariat) and ready to part with our analysis and offers of solutions. But in a world that more and more becoming a world of BOTH/AND not EITHER/OR single perspective and single perspective applications might not effect enough. It's a child's play for the powerful to let all those small scale fragmented actions run dry. It's too easy to loose the feeling of efficacy if you pull at one of the many loose threads of the knot and "nothing" happens.

What we need is a narrative that allows to get passionately involved into the "problem" of your choice but still let you feel to be part of a bigger project. A framework that allows to slot my own work in, or ideally even to provide enabling constraints. Something, one can let her imagination and his passions enfold upon. Something, that might even allow to let a potential failure/evaporation of the energy spent in our actions seem acceptable or provides a rough guideline what to do.

Looking from the designer's perspective here, I believe that there are two things that would be worthwhile to think about and work on.

1. The project to collectively design, tickle, foster, and implement the new paradigm.
Many, like the transition town movement are surely on that, but it might need to be a bit brushed up to become a "glamorous" mass compatible thing to do. Some of the progressives might have to bite their tongue or slow down their expectations to make not the stepping stones too slippery for others to dare to step on them. We are talking so much of the alt-right, the caustic environment the ctrl-left can create is often forgotten. I wonder if it would be not also important to look at the ones in the center? Who targets them? If the progressives don't provide agreeable, only mildly daring proposals, the conservatives/new labours will rake in their votes.

2. More pragmatically to make sure to very consciously aim to make your very local action to become a potential trigger of systemic change.
This means to familiarize yourself with the work of strategic designers. I'm serious they are handsomely paid by all the powerful to produce systemic change to their liking. It might be really worth to learn their tools and use them consciously to progressive's favors. I don't know about you but, I've done too many "installs" of well intended things/organizations that effected near to nothing. I've missed my chances to link them with others (working in the same area) to gain more weight. I've missed my chance to challenge the system/institutions/organisations. I've flapped enough with my wings without either knowing aim not being able to actually lift off.

I've go my aim. I will try to consciously engage in the process of scratching on the surface of the new paradigm. And a diamond headed scratchy pain, eh, pin I want to be!

On 13/11/2017 13:02, David Garcia wrote:

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