Bleeding Edge

The Science of Emergence rests upon simple rules for the creation of Life.
Simple rules live rise to intelligent systems and the most vibrant Artificial Intelligence the Planet has to offer…

This is the Case Study of the Environmental Parliament rise to Global Influence as an Institution, and as a reasonable voice for the People, the Planet, and Profits.

Of course we can also look at the globally distributed Environmental Parliament as a system validation in the Human & Artificial Intelligence of the Internet, because it has been proven over and over again, in the last 30 years, and here I will revalidate the data and explain the assembling quality once again.

We have been living through this, and we have been prototyping with this in different ways, and also have been in inquiries around it and soon enough we get to really play with these ‘Systems of Influence’ in existing human centered global networks….

Because “networks aren’t the whole story” but human interfaces are. And as networks grow and transform into active, working communities of practice, we discover how Life truly changes, which is through emergence. When separate, local efforts connect with each other as networks, then strengthen as communities of practice, suddenly and surprisingly a new system emerges at a greater level of scale.

This system of influence possesses qualities and capacities that were unknown in the individuals. It isn’t that they were hidden; they simply don’t exist until the system emerges. They are properties of the system, not the individual, but once there, individuals possess them. And the system that emerges always possesses greater power and influence than is possible through planned, incremental change. Emergence is how Life creates radical change and takes things to scale.

Emergence has a life-cycle. It begins with networks, shifts to intentional communities of practice and evolves into powerful systems capable of global influence. This “global” influence brings about Change…

Because in spite of current ads and slogans, the world doesn’t change one person at a time.

The World changes as networks of relationships form among people who discover they share a common cause and vision of what’s possible — and then act upon it, in a synchronous and coordinated manner.

This is good news for those of us intent on changing the world and creating a positive future. Rather than worry about critical mass, our work is to foster critical connections. We don’t need to convince large numbers of people to change; instead, we need to connect with kindred spirits. Through these relationships, we will develop the new knowledge, practices, courage, and commitment that lead to broad-based change.

But networks aren’t the whole story. As networks grow and transform into active, working communities of practice, we discover how Life truly changes, which is through emergence. When separate, local efforts connect with each other as networks, then strengthen as communities of practice, suddenly and surprisingly a new system emerges at a greater level of scale. This system of influence possesses qualities and capacities that were unknown in the individuals. It isn’t that they were hidden; they simply don’t exist until the system emerges. They are properties of the system, not the individual, but once there, individuals possess them. And the system that emerges always possesses greater power and influence than is possible through planned, incremental change. Emergence is how Life creates radical change and takes things to scale.

Emergence has a life-cycle. It begins with networks, shifts to intentional communities of practice and evolves into powerful systems capable of global influence. Since it’s inception in 1992, The Berkana Institute has striven to learn how living systems work, how they emerge from networks to communities to systems of influence. In our global work–primarily with economically poor communities in many different nations–we have experimented actively with emergence in many different contexts. We have demonstrated what’s possible when we connect people across difference and distance. By applying the lessons of living systems and working intentionally with emergence and it’s life-cycle, we have become confident that local social innovations can be taken to scale and provide solutions to many of the world’s most intractable issues.

Why do we need to understand that it is networks that create Change?

Researchers and social activists are beginning to discover the power of networks and networking. And there is a growing recognition that networks are the new form of organizing. Evidence of self-organized networks is everywhere: social activists, terrorist groups, drug cartels, street gangs, web-based interest groups. While we now see these everywhere, it is not because they’re a new form of organizing. It’s because we’ve removed our old paradigm blinders that look for hierarchy and control mechanisms in the belief that organization only happens through human will and intervention.

Networks are the only form of organization used by living systems on this planet. These networks result from self-organization, where individuals or species recognize their interdependence and organize in ways that support the diversity and viability of all. Networks create the conditions for emergence, which is how Life changes. Because networks are the first stage in emergence, it is essential that we understand their dynamics and how they develop into communities and then systems.

Yet much of the current work on networks displays old paradigm bias. In social network analysis, physical representations of the network are created by mapping relationships. This is useful for convincing people that networks exist, and people are often fascinated to see the network made visible. Other network analysts name roles played by members of the network or make distinctions between different parts of the network, such as core and periphery. It may not be the intent of these researchers, but their work is often used by leaders to find ways to manipulate the network, to use it in a traditional and controlling way.

What’s missing in these analyses is an exploration of the dynamics of networks:
Why do networks form? What conditions that support their creation?
What keeps a network alive and growing? What keeps members connected?
What type of leadership is required? Why do people become leaders?
What type of leadership interferes with or destroys the network?
What happens after a healthy network forms? What’s next?
If we understand these dynamics and the life-cycle of emergence, what can we do as leaders, activists and social entrepreneurs to intentionally foster emergence?

What is Emergence?

Emergence violates so many of our Western assumptions of how change happens that it often takes quite a while to understand it. In nature, change never happens as a result of top-down, pre-conceived strategic plans, or from the mandate of any single individual or boss. Change begins as local actions spring up simultaneously in many different areas. If these changes remain disconnected, nothing happens beyond each locale. However, when they become connected, local actions can emerge as a powerful system with influence at a more global or comprehensive level. Global here means a larger scale, not necessarily the entire planet.

These powerful emergent phenomena appear suddenly and surprisingly. Think about how the Berlin Wall suddenly came down, how the Soviet Union ended, how corporate power quickly came to dominate globally. In each case, there were many local actions and decisions, most of which were invisible and unknown to each other, and none of which was powerful enough by itself to create change. But when these local changes coalesced, new power emerged. What could not be accomplished by diplomacy, politics, protests, or strategy suddenly happened. And when each materialized, most were surprised. Emergent phenomena always have these characteristics: They exert much more power than the sum of their parts; they always possess new capacities different from the local actions that engendered them; they always surprise us by their appearance.

It is important to note that emergence always results in a powerful system that has many more capacities than could ever be predicted by analyzing the individual parts. We see this in the behavior of hive insects such as bees and termites. Individual ants possess none of the intelligence or skills that are in the hive. No matter how intently scientists study the behavior of individual ants, they can never see the behavior of the hive. Yet once the hive forms, each ant acts with the intelligence and skillfulness of the whole.

This aspect of emergence has profound implications for social entrepreneurs. Instead of developing them individually as leaders and skillful practitioners, we would do better to connect them to like-minded others and create the conditions for emergence. The skills and capacities needed by them will be found in the system that emerges, not in better training programs.

Because emergence only happens through connections, we have developed a four stage model that catalyzes connections as the means to achieve global level change. Our philosophy is to “Act locally, connect regionally, learn globally.” We focus on discovering pioneering efforts and naming them as such. We then connect these efforts to other similar work globally. We nourish this network in many ways, but most essentially through creating opportunities for learning and sharing of experiences and shifting into communities of practice. We also illuminate the work of these pioneering efforts so that many more people will learn from them. We are attempting to work intentionally with emergence so that small, local efforts can become a global force for change.

The Life-Cycle of Emergence

Stage One: Networks. We live in a time when coalitions, alliances and networks are forming as the means to create societal change. There are ever more networks and now, networks of networks. These networks are essential for people finding like-minded others, the first stage in the life-cycle of emergence. It’s important to note that networks are only the beginning. They are based on self-interest–people usually network together for their own benefit and to develop their own work. Networks tend to have fluid membership; people move in and out of them based on how much they personally benefit from participating.

Stage Two: Communities of Practice. Networks make it possible for people to find others engaged in similar work. The second stage of emergence is the development of communities of practice (CofPs). Many such smaller, individuated communities can spring from a robust network. CofPs are also self-organized. People share a common work and realize there is great benefit to being in relationship. They use this community to share what they know, to support one another, and to intentionally create new knowledge for their field of practice. These CofPs differ from networks in significant ways. They are communities, which means that people make a commitment to be there for each other; they participate not only for their own needs, but to serve the needs of others.

In a community of practice, the focus extends beyond the needs of the group. There is an intentional commitment to advance the field of practice, and to share those discoveries with a wider audience. They make their resources and knowledge available to anyone , especially those doing related work.

The speed with which people learn and grow in a community of practice is noteworthy. Good ideas move rapidly amongst members. New knowledge and practices are implemented quickly. The speed at which knowledge development and exchange happens is crucial, because local regions and the world need this knowledge and wisdom now.

Stage Three: Systems of Influence. The third stage in emergence can never be predicted. It is the sudden appearance of a system that has real power and influence. Pioneering efforts that hovered at the periphery suddenly become the norm. The practices developed by courageous communities become the accepted standard.
People no longer hesitate about adopting these approaches and methods and they learn them easily Policy and funding debates now include the perspectives and experiences of these pioneers. They become leaders in the field and are acknowledged as the wisdom keepers for their particular issue. And critics who said it could never be done suddenly become chief supporters, often saying they knew it all along.

Emergence is the fundamental scientific explanation for how local changes can materialize as global systems of influence. As a change theory, it offers methods and practices to accomplish the systems-wide changes that are so needed at this time. As leaders and communities of concerned people, we need to intentionally work with emergence so that our efforts will result in a truly hopeful future. No matter what other change strategies we have learned or favored, emergence is the only way change really happens on this planet. And that is very good news.

Networks are the only form of organization used by living systems on this planet. These networks result from self-organization, where individuals or species recognize their interdependence and organize in ways that support the diversity and viability of all. Networks create the conditions for emergence, which is how Life changes. Because networks are the first stage in emergence, it is essential that we understand their dynamics and how they develop into communities and then systems.

Why do networks form?

What conditions that support their creation?

What keeps a network alive and growing? What keeps members connected?

What type of leadership is required? Why do people become leaders?

What type of leadership interferes with or destroys the network?

What happens after a healthy network forms?

What’s next?

As an answer to a FAQ, and as an example of what a typical delegate and an MEP is, here is the primer: An Environmental Parliamentarian (MEP) is simply a decent human being who aspires to be of service in a time of Environmental challenges, and in a time of indecent, inhumane events taking place around the world at an alarming rate. We all want to be of service without adding to the confusion, aggression and fear now so prevalent amongst all the Earth’s Peoples. Therefore, we train ourselves as activists, policy advocates and policy deliverers, and form as a strong, supportive community with our local milieu. Through discipline and dedication, we develop our confidence, skillful means and compassionate Leadership under the tutelage and umbrella of Mentorship from the Environmental Parliament Elders.

We practice parliamentary procedure in our debates and in our rhetoric for Policy and Leadership Change. We convene our people regularly and include them n frequent actions. We learn how to see clearly into the nature of reality, and not be fooled by propaganda or misinformation. We practice the code of the Environmental Parliament Members and Warriors with enthusiastic perseverance in order to cultivate our own Leadership. Leading warriors manage their respective communities and run for Political Office at any level of Government and City or State structure. Our commitment is to stay engaged with all those in power, in order to work inside our communities and within our families, yet always to participate as the most active nodes in the nascent Networks of Emergence that thrive n our AI enhanced Internet days we live through.

We are always committed to act in ways that make it possible for people to fully experience their human Leadership potential, and to aspire to be the discerning, compassionate, and sane presence in the most difficult of circumstances. We always lead from the front because we realize that no matter how much mastery we have attained in our professional and personal lives, we need the different Systems Network Leadership skills and perspectives taught by the Environmental Parliament practice in order to meet the ever-increasing challenges we face.

This is why we dedicate ourselves to Humanity’s Future Survival…

Yours,
Dr Churchill

PS:

I am asked a lot about this, and therefore I have to answer:

I certainly do not know What comes Next…

But I can assure you that I meditate upon it and am fairly certain the future will reveal itself, and the Actions that we need to take will be announced soonest. That is why we get together to reveal the Future Actions, we want to focus upon.

Am saying this, not only because I want your input, but because if we understand these dynamics of our Emergence as a Human Centered and an Artificial Intelligence Network amidst the life-cycle of emergence — there is nothing that we cannot do as leaders, as activists, and as social entrepreneurs to intentionally foster a positive system and a virtuous cycle to emerge out of our ideological & religious Climate Wars, and out of our Planetary Woes…

Yet first we still need to think deeply about these issues and thus I invite you to think, write-up your thesis for next year’s Five Topmost Environmental Parliament Initiatives, and also to travel in order to attend and participate in our Rangoon Meeting this January first and second, because that is when and where we convene the assembly of the Environmental Parliament, in the Old Burmese capital of today’s State of Myanmar as the Executive and Advisory leadership Committee of the Global Environmental Parliament.

Come share your project and defend your thesis, for One of the Most Important Issues facing the Planet, so that we can tackle it in the year 2017. And since we only have space for Five Topmost Initiatives, we will engage in rigorous debate and parliamentary procedure for democratic selection of the topmost issues.

And even people who are not active members of the Environmental Parliament are invited to attend because this is the annual open meeting and we want input from the UN, and also from many other Governmental and Non governmental organizations too. Therefore, we invite attendees and participants from all over the World and from all the chapters of the Environmental Parliament and associative Networks, and also from your local community of Environmental Activists and Parliamentarians.