 Donna Zajonc, MA, CPC Author, The Politics of Hope |
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"Viewed in evolutionary terms, our broken political systems are a symptom of progress. Far from being defeated, we're drawing closer than ever to our aim of true democratic government." Donna Zajonc
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The Politics of Hope: The Four Stages of Political Evolutionby Donna Zajonc © 2004 All Rights Reserved The laws of evolution tell us that when a breakdown occurs, breakthroughs appear. That's what is happening right now in our nation and throughout the world. The American democratic system is now involved in an early stage of transformation similar to what transpired at the birth of our nation, the American Revolution of the 18th century. This new revolution, however, will be fundamentally different. A host of fresh challenges--complex cultural, environmental, and economic issues around the globe, new technologies of high-speed communication and mass destruction, as well as the ever-growing gap between the wealthy and the poor of the world--are calling for a new kind of public leadership. Viewed in evolutionary terms, our broken political systems are a symptom of progress. Far from being defeated, we're drawing closer than ever to our aim of true democratic government. When old systems don't work anymore, we begin envisioning a new political future. Individuals, nations, and whole cultures begin moving steadily away from what doesn't work toward what works well. A critical mass of our citizenry now understands that the old styles of leadership cannot move us successfully through the chaos and complexity of our 21st-century global society. We know from studying the evolutionary process in general that nature has predictable cycles. We take comfort knowing that evolution unfolds one step at a time. Human systems are not static but fluid, always forging new systems, constantly adapting to an ever-changing set of challenges. The adjustments we make to address such change constitute an "evolutionary leap," one which occurs in all such systems. In the same way, politics as a living organism must evolve in a similar pattern. The emergence of ever more complex systems in this time of quantum change makes the job of leadership, decision-making and implementation of policy an increasingly intricate art form. To address and embrace this transformational leap in politics, I became determined to map out the process using an evolutionary model. The result was the Four Stages of Political Evolution, described more fully in The Politics of Hope: Reviving the Dream of Democracy. As I work with leaders throughout the nation, I have found that examining these Stages of political evolutionary change helps us look more deeply at where we are right now, and where we are going. The Four Stages are not personality types, nor are they political positions carved in granite. Rather, they describe where we may be in our political growth at a given time. No one exhibits just one of these stages exclusively. Although each of us spirals through them in unique ways, we traverse them all on our way to the highest form of politics: Conscious Public Leadership. Here are some defining characteristics of the Four Stages of Political Evolution. Stage One: AnarchyStage One Qualities
Stage One Assumptions
Stage One Examples
Stage Two: TraditionalismStage Two Qualities
Stage Two Assumptions
Stage Two Examples:
Stage Three: ResignationStage Three Qualities:
Stage Three Assumptions:
Stage Three Examples:
Stage Four: The Politics of HopeStage Four Qualities
Stage Four Assumptions
Stage Four Examples
Whenever I present the Four Stages to clients and seminar participants, the concept has a potent impact. Viewing politics as an evolutionary process leads people to valuable insights about just what, in our democracy, public service actually means. By naming our political philosophies and positions in relationship to those of others, we face squarely the real nature of our present political situation, as well as our goal to serve the collective good. We can then begin to express our values and our highest motives while accomplishing the very practical purpose of ensuring the survival of our species. Evolving our public policy by adopting a global consciousness of democracy may be the toughest hurdle yet for our relatively young nation. We will not know the nature of the challenge, however, until we begin it--not until our individual conversations, relationships and actions make the shift in focus from "me" to "we." That conversation must begin with the understanding that, as United States citizens and inheritors of the most powerful democracy in the world's history, we must come forward and take courageous steps to aid the evolutionary unfolding of the human spirit. So Stage Four, the Politics of Hope, is where we are headed. Stage Four political leaders are moved to action by hope, trust, inspiration and vision. They understand the inevitability of the evolutionary process. They know well that humanity, despite its apparent outward chaos, is busily evolving into a cooperative species. The primary challenge in Stage Four lies in maintaining this perspective. However our forward leaps occur, Stage Four leaders believe that the evolutionary process must take place, and that it will in time take humanity to greater heights. My clients and seminar participants--political candidates and other public leaders - say that examining the Four Stages of Political Evolution gives a broader perspective on our current political conflicts and offers a glimpse of the new form of leadership we so desperately need. Evolving a collaborative model of shared responsibility requires the effort of the many rather than only the few. The new breed of political leaders will focus on setting aside their personal fears, offering their time and resources in service of a purpose they may or may not see fulfilled during their lifetime: transforming our political system for the sake of generations to come. Evolving into conscious public leaders, the Politics of Hope, means taking up our collective and public challenge with great faith. Evolution--the universal mandate that we change in ways that ensure our survival--can never exclude politics; the most obvious expression of human community and coexistence. As Mahatma Gandhi urged when he said "I have not the shadow of a doubt that any man or woman can achieve what I have, if he or she would make the same effort and cultivate the same hope and faith." The law of evolution demands we must keep hope alive to ensure our survival. Back to The Politics of Hope main page
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