FINS
Revised ed. Tuesday, 18 November 2008; 6:15 PM EST.
Moving from Tyranny to Democracy Right Now!
By Vigdor Schreibman
World Social Forum
Two articles discussing the hoped for democratic convergence of the many
diverse advocates on the left, followed the World Social Forum meeting at Porto
Alegre, Brazil, January 31 to February 5, 2002: Norman Solomon (IPA), “A
Different World Is Possible": Porto Alegre vs. the Corporate Media, quoting Mario Osava (IPS), "The World Social Forum is a child of
1968. The struggles that exploded in the 1960s produced the myriad organizations
that are now trying to surmount the challenges posed by their own diversity."
Paradoxically, aspirations for convergence were not part of the structure of the
World Social Forum, whose charter of
principles, ¶ 6, explicitly excluded the possibility of an expression of the
will of the whole.
The evident focus on the politics of confrontation by the anti-capitalist
movement, has greatly enlarged public awareness of many legitimate grievances by
means of public spectacle, much like the "success" of the 1960's movement, which
suffocated itself from diversity without any movement toward genuine union. "To
sum things up," Susan George explained earlier this year in Another world
is possible, "the climate may be far better than it was, but so far we
haven’t actually won anything from the worldwide corporate government. We need
more people and better organization if we mean to start changing that."
Forum managers sought to overcome the anarchistic structure of their charter
with a set of themes integrating the statements of forum participants, together
with a "citizens
mosaic" offered as "a symbol of a desire for unity" by which they also
"demonstrated a strong desire for joint participation in the construction of
world citizenship." Nevertheless, the symbols gave way to the reality.
The bottom line in any social movement that calls itself democratic is simply
this: in the absence of broad collaboration expressing a synthesis of values
with a viable strategy for transformation there can be no serious exercise of
the sovereign power of "the People." Moreover, the social capital derived from
that synthesis is the imperative political condition for moving the capitalist
empire that is blocking genuine progress. No such synthesis has been sought, nor
has it been achieved. Cut off from the exercise of real power, by its broad
diversity without genuine union, the outcome of the anti-capitalist movement
remains in doubt. This condition has also had an impact on corporate media,
which decided once again that the WSF of 2001 was a non event. "(M)ajor [news]
outlets told us little about upwards of 50,000 activists from around the planet
who converged on Porto Alegre, Brazil, for the second annual World Social
Forum," Norman Solomon reported, in Media Beat, February 7,
2002.
Anti-democratic foundations
A fundamental problem with the democratic left is its not so democratic
corporate structures. The corporate structure in a Capitalist system, which is
ironically followed by many liberal democratic interest groups, including most
if not all Public Broadcasting organizations, has been depicted by the world
renown Linguist Noam Chomsky in his book, Language and Politics 162
(1988), as a form of "political fascism." Chomsky expressed his thinking on this
matter in these words: "(U)ntil the major institutions of society are under
popular control of participants and communities, it's pointless to talk about
democracy." Closely held corporate structures used by the democratic left that
secure the exercise of power-over their constituencies by a perpetual leadership
is designed to preclude control by communities and their members, insuring
cynicism and disengagement by the citizenry together with the continuing lack of
integration between advocacy groups.
Tim Robbins described the trend toward anti-democratic actions in Democratic
politics in connection with the 2000 election.
There was a time when I would have said that it is
the "evil" Republicans who fear democracy. But the sad realization I have come
to after the 2000 election, and after experiencing the reaction to our support
for Nader, is that you can count the Democrats in that bunch too. Not only do
they fear democracy, but many in the Democratic Party elite fear, if not
outright despise, idealism.
[Tim Robbins, The Nation, August 6,
2001.]
Pacifica Radio Network
Similar issues bringing into question the democratic values-in-use are also
raised at local level, in the USA, with regard to the programs and functions of
the Pacifica Radio Network, and its Local Advisory Boards (LAB's).
For example, at WPFW Pacifica Radio (89.3 FM), in Washington, DC, the
left-leaning LAB had a winners' meeting last February, 2002, at the WPFW studio
in the funky Adams Morgan neighborhood, the vibrant center of the city's most
diverse neighborhood and the heart of the Latino community. The meeting
following settlement of Pacifica's law suit to rescue the station from the
hijacking by a conservative cabal that sought to take over the National Board of the
Pacifica Foundation and censor its pro-democracy broadcasting style.
I attended the LAB meeting at the WPFW studio in Adams Morgan, upon
invitation of the LAB chair, Sam Husseini. The invitation followed email
correspondence with media critic and executive director of the Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA) Norman
Solomon, with whom Husseini is associated, while I was looking into current
trends bearing upon democratic convergence (or non convergence) of diverse
advocates in the global anti-capitalist movement.
The LAB meeting provides a microcosm of the problems now surfacing on a
global scale: widely divergent perspectives and conflicting values from all
levels of the control hierarchy on the left, including insiders and outsiders,
which must be fairly integrated to realize organizational goals. My presumption
is, if one cannot solve the local problem the global problem is likely beyond
hope of a successful resolution.
The meeting of WPFW LAB got under way pursuant to an agenda.
An introductory statement was made by Tony Regusters, interim station manager.
Next, Jabari Zakiya, Pacifica National Board treasurer, informed LAB members of
latest developments in the law suit, which was then winding down. Zakiya
reported how the attempted take-over had left Pacifica in the worst financial crisis ever. He
confirmed that a campaign is now under way to rescue the network from
financial crisis, however, and to revitalize the broadcasting program,
Zakiya, reported.
A programming committee report was offered, with a summary of the programming
committee meeting, together with a proposal improvement of spanish language
programming. Then LAB member Billy Ray Edwards offered oral remarks, which
brought the LAB meeting into a crisis. He expressed his strong concerns inter
alia, for the hiring of interim station manager Tony Regusters without LAB
involvement in the process, and Billy Ray then dropped this bombshell: he
questioned the "legitimacy" of the LAB (which was overwhelmingly comprised of
White men in a predominantly Black population City). He raised a "point of
order" demanding that the process for election of LAB members (who were
evidently appointed during the law suit settlement), be given priority before
any decisions by the LAB with regard to station programming. A shouting match
then ensued.
When the shouting was quieted, the LAB chair, Sam Husseini, calmly explained
that, as duly constituted with judicial sanction, the present LAB membership
(which had fought to rescue WPFW from right wing destruction) was a "legitimate"
body, given 14-months in which to set up democratic structures. Billy Ray's
"point of order" was rejected and the issue he raised was referred to the
nominations committee. Nevertheless, without the sanction of a democratic vote
by qualified residents of the broadcast area to be served by WPFW, LAB's actions
could not be classified as a "legitimate" outcome in ethical terms. Rather, the
extreme existing conditions have given rise to "great frustration" with the
desire for an accelerated move toward satisfactory methods of governance. Sam
Husseini concurred with the need for a program on Governance. More of the same
"great frustration" followed with regard to all other important issues on the
agenda prepared for the meeting.
The Pacifica National Board later established a Bylaws Revisions Committee to
correct deficiencies in the governance structure, in which similar frustrations
occurred. I volunteered to be a member of the Subcommittee for WPFW-FM station in
Washington, DC. I attended several meetings during May 2002, and offered a
concrete plan for revision of the "Governing Ideas" of the Pacifica Radio
Network that would answer three critical questions: "What?" "Why?" and "How"?
- Shared vision offers a picture of the future the community seeks to
create;
- Purpose (or mission) responds to the question "Why do we exist?";
and
- Core qualities answer the question "How do we want to act,
consistent with our mission, along the path toward achieving our vision?"
For those purposes two amendments to the Pacifica Bylaws were proposed
(05/16/2002 as amended 05/21/2002), including the following provisions:
FIRST PROPOSED AMENDMENT:
STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE DECISIONS OF THE PACIFICA
FOUNDATION, INCLUDING MEMBERS, OFFICERS, AND DIRECTORS, SHALL HEREINAFTER BE
REGARDED COLLECTIVELY AS "THE PACIFICA COMMUNICATIONS COMMUNITY."
SECOND PROPOSED AMENDMENT:
Section 1.
THE PACIFICA COMMUNICATIONS COMMUNITY SHALL CREATE A SET OF "GOVERNING
IDEAS" COMPRISED OF A SHARED VISION, PURPOSES, AND CORE QUALITIES THAT WILL
SUPPORT DEMOCRACY RIGHT NOW. THESE IDEAS SHALL BE FORMULATED TO MAKE POSSIBLE
EVALUATION OF PROGRESS TOWARD THEM.
Section 2.
A CROSS SECTION OF ALL MEMBERS, AND THE CURRENT OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
OF THE PACIFICA COMMUNICATIONS COMMUNITY SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO MEANINGFUL
PARTICIPATION, IN A USER-DESIGNER MODE OF SOCIAL SYSTEMS DESIGN, OF CONTINUING
DURATION, FOR CREATION OF THE AFORESAID SET OF "GOVERNING
IDEAS".
Section 3.
THE PACIFICA COMMUNICATIONS COMMUNITY SHALL INSTITUTE A PROCESS OF GROUP
DIALOGUE, MANAGED BY A STAFF OF COMPETENT FACILITATORS, WHO SHALL BE TRAINED
IN THE SYSTEMS METHODOLOGIES OF A "TECHNIQUE OF DEMOCRACY". COSTS AND EXPENSES
OF THE DIALOGUE SHALL BE SELF-FUNDED AND SELF-REGULATED BY THE
PARTICIPANTS.
The need for the proposed shift of structure is evident. Presently, there are
no "Governing Ideas" that members, officers, and directors are collectively
committed to support. Instrumental power alone is the de facto governance
strategy. Moreover, despite the democratic ideals espoused by Pacifica directors
and officers, members and listeners of Pacifica's radio network, who are given a
hard sell by Pacifica stations four times a year soliciting desperately needed
operating funds, together with any number of mini-fund raising events to cover
recurring emergencies, are locked out of the decision-making control structures-
in-use. In addition, while Pacifica's articles of incorporation include a set of
lofty espoused purposes [e.g., To engage in any activity that shall
contribute to a lasting understanding between nations and between the
individuals of all nations, races, creeds and colors (Art 2(c)], these espoused
purposes are not the actual purposes-in-use [e.g., the highly valued Jazz
music entertainment programming at station WPFW 89.3, in Washington, DC].
The public was told that the Bylaws Revisions Committee was a good faith
effort to remedy the situation but it turned out to be nothing but a farce. My
carefully designed proposals, which were based on the best management science
practices consistent with democratic principles [B.H. Banathy, Guided Evolution
of Society, 2000; R.L. Ackoff, Re-creating the Corporation, 1999; P.M.
Senge, The Fifth Discipline, 1990], should have been a signal for serious
dialogue between directors, officers, and a cross section of members about
Pacifica's "Governing Ideas"; but instead, met with a stonewall of resistance by
insiders: Ron Robinson, National Board director; Jabari Zakiya, National Board
treasurer; and Ambrose Lane, WPFW station attorney.
The Subcommittee failed and refused to allow a discussion of these proposals
during several meetings, preoccupied with an attempt to patch up the old scheme
of bylaws. The first round "synthesis" of ideas submitted by the station
Subcommittees, which was circulated on 30 May 2002 by the Pacifica Bylaws
Revisions Committee chair Carol Spooner, provided, "Bullet Points" for
discussion. A section on "The functions of the Board of Directors" recognized
the need to clarify the corporation's purposes and to prepare "an adequate
statement or mission." However, listener-members of the radio network would
remain locked out of the decision making process, subject to the fascist
corporate control process defeating any effective participatory role in the
design of Pacifica's "Governing Ideas."
These matters are not resolved by calling oneself a leftist, a socialist, a
capitalist, for-profit, not-for-profit, which all suffer from the same fascist
governing hierarchical style of control from the top. Indeed, the most
progressive (and successful) management systems come not from the left but from
from the capitalist organization guru Russell Ackoff. Ideological
classifications cannot supplant the need for a competent process addressing the
true mission of democracy envisioned by the dreams and
promises of our forefathers. Communications in the "public interest"
confirmed by relevant jurisprudence, e.g., Red Lion Broadcasting Co.
v. F.C.C. 395 U.S. 367, 377 (1969); National Broadcasting Co. v. United
States, 319 U.S. 190, 217 (1943); means, "for the maximum benefit of all the
people of the United States."
But no public official, whether officer of the Court, Congress, or Executive
Branch, can take us there; the actions of Americans all together is the only
form of power that can deliver the promise of democracy, when the interests of
government and big business executives are often in severe conflict with the
"public interest"! Indeed, we have the anomaly under which broadcasting in the
"public interest" has never been defined by the US Congress or Courts, so as to
serve the fictions of the "free market" driven by a philosophy of greed, disregarding
the "public interest."
Technology of democracy
We have a democracy, it is presumed under the Constitution of the United
States, wherein "all power derives from the people." This is true, as the
Supreme Court has confirmed, City of Eastlake v. Forest City Enterprises,
Inc., 426 U.S. 668, 672 (1976). It is so very beautiful, our democratic
mission, but we Americans have never learned how to exercise our sovereign
democratic powers, and in the absence of this crucial and faithful engagement by
the people, the man or woman with the biggest fist, the loudest voice, the
largest bank account, or the one situated with the greatest instrumental power,
rules with ruthless abandon by raw tyranny alone. But tyranny will not be the
end of this story, with so many individuals striving for Another World.
In her book The New
State (1918), ch XVIII, the sage of democracy Mary Parker Follett, who was
one of the first management scientists, now known as The Prophet of
Management, observed,
We have said, "The people must rule." We now ask, "How are they
to rule?" It is the technique of democracy which we are seeking. We shall find
it in group organization.
And so it came to pass that a technology of
democracy was established during the last several decades of the
20th-century, just as anticipated by Mary Parker Follett. This writer pursuing
his own interest in the progress of humankind, has been a witness to that
technological development.
We have passed the ancient modes of association based on command and control
of the expert, chairman, captain, and king, which produce "great frustration."
The technology of democracy, is based on the "third phase science," in
which community groups are engaged as "expert observers" of the situation in
which they are embedded. Community groups or stakeholders "(A)re the ones who
should decide how to take action in their situation, since they are those most
affected by the existing situation and its evolution." [Christakis & Bausch
2001]
In this process, relations are collaborative for those seeking to share power
with each other, but adversarial for those demanding power over the others;
guidance not control is provided by a facilitator, who offers leadership to help
produce the collective will of the whole group, instead of imposing the will of
the sole leader. From this process there emerges "psychic power" between
individuals, which is the basis of a society, and the natural outcome of an
interpenetration and integration of ideas. Synthesis producing methodologies and
computer calculating abilities help to unlock the meaning and wisdom of the
group, and produce a genuine union from diverse perspectives. This is like a
miracle. It must certainly feel like a miracle of sorts, since one is not
immediately aware of the reasons for this new ability to break through the
barriers of group dialogue, but that is what occurs with a technique of
democracy.
The confirmation of this new opportunity for the triumph of democracy over
tyranny comes from the applications of this technology in a large variety of
designs in many diverse fields, particularly during the past 15-years. This
includes, for example:
Civil Society Dialogue for Peace Revival
The Miracle of Cyprus (Cypriot pioneers supported
by the Cyprus EU Association and the UN Development Programme design
of the "root causes" of the Cyprus problématique) Sept-Dec 2006.
Flinders International Asia Pacific Institute
World Premiere WebScope Email Dialogue (Extramural workshop of graduate
students for design of "Root Cause Map" Points of Failure of Democracy) July 21, 2006.
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance Project
Consumers Trends in the Pacific Northwest and the US (Anticipating
Alternative National and Regional Futures in Energy Efficiency) May 2001
National Association of Mental Health
Mental Health Internet Leadership Summit (Feb 2001) (Discussion paper, Summit Proceedings, Clarification of Principles).
-
Warfield, Ford Motor Company, introduction of Interactive Management systems
for quality management and system design practices for vehicle development program,
with collaboration of Dr. Scott M. Staley, Ford Research Laboratory, for education
of Ford personnel (1993-1998).
-
Jeffrey, Disarmament and Demobilization, (Interactive Management Workshop
hosted by the European Commission, Monrovia, Liberia 1996) (design of a plan of
disarmament and demobilization by the "Warlords and Warriors" engaged in a civil
war in Liberia).
-
Alberts, Redesigning the Defense Acquisition System (Interactive Management
process applied by the Defense Systems Management College 1986-91, to design a
functional defense acquisition process, later enacted into law as, The Federal
Acqusition Streamlining Act of 1994, Pub. L. No. 103-355 (1994)).
-
Christakis, The National Forum on Nonindustrial Private Forest Lands, 2
SYSTEMS RESEARCH 189 (1985) (Interactive Management forum sponsored by the US
Department of Agriculture 1984, examining national issues, options, and
responsibilities faced by representative national assembly of stakeholders).
Democracy Right Now!
Realization of the possibilities for true democracy calls upon
the multitudes at the grass roots level to, once again, assert their direct interest and
strength in breaking through the barriers of the new frontier of tyranny.
Organizations that assert control over the members of a democratic community
from the top must be transformed, making way for serious reform. In this task,
from my observations, the multitudes are ready, way ahead of corporate masters.
In Bolivia, when the Government granted a wicked contract to the multinational
Bechtel corporation, privatizing the peoples' water system, they organized a
massive demonstration of Countervailing Powers using the democratic process in which every man
and woman is a leader, and they forced the Bolivian Government to rescind that contract,
Amy Goodman ironically reported on the Pacifica Radio program, Democracy
Now, from the Earth Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sept 4, 2002. In
the future we can clearly see, as the popular song says, those who seek to
"serve their vanity rather than humanity are going to fade away."
Credits
World Social Forum 2002 Mosaic
Courtesy of WSF
Adams Morgan neighborhood.
Courtesy DC Heritage Tourism Coalition.
Portraits of Mary Parker Follett, and Vigdor in blue by Cornelia P.
Atchley
Images from the collection of CyberspaceCapital
Federal Information News Syndicate,
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