Governance in the Postmodern Era:Implications of an Ecological Worldview

Peter J. RobertsonAssociate ProfessorSchool of Policy, Planning, and DevelopmentUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA

Starting premise:

Systems of governance throughout the world are in a period of significant transformation

- reinventing government

This reflects a societal transition from the modern era to the postmodern era

- new public management

The Modern Era

Mechanistic worldview oriented towards:

- reductionism

- prediction and control

- competitive dynamics

Foundations of a new worldview:- quantum physics- cognition and consciousness- systems theory- complexity sciences- humanistic ideology- open systems thinking- social constructivism- critical theory

The Postmodern Era

Ecological worldview oriented towards:

- interconnectedness

- self-organizing capacity

- coevolutionary dynamics

Summary of the transition:1) from a focus on the properties of the separate parts comprising any system to an emphasis on the holistic pattern of relationships among those parts that define and maintain the system

2) from a focus on prediction and control using centralized knowledge to maintain system stability to an emphasis on the intrinsic capacity to generate adaptive responses through self-organizing processes

3) from a focus on competitive dynamics that influence system well-being and the evolution of life to an emphasis on co-evolutionary dynamics through which diverse, complex interactions maintain system health and well-being

Ecological Governance

Implications in four key areas:

- purpose

- design

- process

- relationships

PurposeThe purpose of every “cell” is to add value to the larger system(s) of which it is a part

- should strive to avoid doing unnecessary harm

Operationalized in terms of mission- operating principles serve as parameters guiding system activity

Effectiveness defined and assessed broadly- responsiveness to multiple stakeholders required

DesignPrimary form is a dynamic network, a web of relationships among interacting cells

- diverse roles integrated into a coherent unity

Patterns of interaction give rise to capacity for self-organizing and self-managing

- continual adjustment to new contingencies

Collaborative dynamics facilitate adaptability- innovation requires experimentation and novelty

ProcessDecision-making is democratic, with participation by relevant stakeholders

- consensus used to determine collective interests

Cells are responsible for their performance as well as the long-term success of the system

- authority is fluid, expertise-based, task-bound

Coordination through mutual adaptation- leadership and management enable effectiveness through stewardship and facilitation

RelationshipsPositive relationships build social capital that contributes to system performance

- based on mutually beneficial reciprocity

Value alignment between a system and its cells enhances motivation and commitment

- commitment to cell development is required

Importance of evaluation and feedback- input from interdependent others contributes to ability to learn and adaptively co-evolve

Summary of the argument:

1) governance systems throughout much of global society are in a period of transition

2) philosophical and scientific foundations exist for a shift from a modern mechanistic to a postmodern ecological worldview

3) an ecological perspective yields useful insights regarding important qualities of effective systems

4) many reforms already implemented are compatible with the principles of ecological governance

Concluding premise:

The organization “species” is evolving- a new ecological form is replacing the mechanistic model reflected in the bureaucratic hierarchies that have dominated the modern era

Evolution driven by environmental forces- demographic trends increasing complexity- constraints inherent to the natural world- the “global brain” in the Information Age

Final observation:The possibility of discontinuous change suggests that organizations of the future are more likely to be quite different from, rather than mostly similar to, the organizations of today

- “far-from-equilibrium” conditions lead to a bifurcation point in many natural systems

- “punctuated equilibrium” pattern of change reflects spontaneous systemic reorientation