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The Practice of Democracy: Learning and Acting Together for a Better Future

This concluding remark emphasizes the importance of thinking anew, practicing democratic behavior, and engaging in dialogue within civil society organizations to create a future shaped by our values. It also highlights the need to include diverse perspectives and provide opportunities for learning and contribution. The message is that although it may be challenging, it is essential to do so in order to succeed collectively.

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The Practice of Democracy: Learning and Acting Together for a Better Future

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  1. European Civic Academy: Concluding RemarksOctober 9, 2016 Susan J. Schurman, Distinguished Professor Department of Labor Studies and Employment Relations School of Management and Labor Relations Rutgers – the State University of New Jersey President, International Federation of Workers’ Education Associations

  2. The Past is Past and the Future is Not Yet Here • We have only the present. • Those who seek to recreate the past are wasting precious time. • Those who only talk about the future are also wasting time. • Those who only act without talking are dangerous. • We have to think together through talking in order to act together to create a future shaped by the practical application of our values.

  3. We can only succeed by concert. It is not “can any of us imagine better?” but “can we all do better?” The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty – and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country. (Abraham Lincoln’s annual address to the United States Congress. December 1, 1862.) But how shall we think anew? What is the methodology?

  4. Democracy is a learned pattern of behavior John Dewey, American Pragmatist Philosopher of Democracy Where do we learn this pattern of behavior? Dewey’s answer: Through the PRACTICE of democratic behavior. But where can we practice the behavior? School? Not if we are treated as vessels into which experts pour knowledge. Family? Not if our parents insist on telling us what to do. Church? Not if the cleric tells what is right and wrong. Work? Not if the boss makes all the decisions. Politics? Not if our only role is to elect representatives who will make all the decisions.

  5. Civil Society Organizations? • It depends both on what we do and how we do it. • In order to act collectively we must have opportunities to think and learn collectively, to question the old ways and explore new ways. • Civil society organizations as spaces in which to learn democratic behavior • Dialogue as the core methodology • Dia + logos - from the Greek “meaning flowing through” • A sustained collective inquiry into the processes, assumptions and certainties that comprise everyday experience • If people can be brought together to a setting, at their own choice, where they can inquire into their different assumptions and beliefs then they can learn together that there are other alternatives that can inform collective action.

  6. Dialogue is Different From Other forms of Talk • Discussion presumes a decision and can provoke competitive behavior – I have the right answer if only you will listen. • Majority vote is almost never based on full exploration of new ideas. • Consensus – even with brainstorming – typically narrows choices too soon. • Real dialogue requires a safe space in which to uncover our assumptions which are rooted in the old paradigm. • It requires “diversity of the system” to be included in the conversation. • It requires us to relate to the others as whole persons. • It requires time and training.

  7. Most of us on the left are not good at dialogue • Especially if we have been through higher education which trains us to find the flaw in the other person’s thinking not to listen without judgment and discover why s/he thinks it. • This conference is a great example of what we need – setting time away with a diverse group – including outside perspectives like mine – and taking time for social and cultural time. • So my message is that we must do more of it inside our own organizations reaching out to those whose voices are not now included so that they have also the opportunity to learn and contribute. • I understand that this sounds “soft” but in practice it is quite hard. But it is essential.

  8. Workers’ Education is based on the Dialogic Method • Was created during the last great transformation of capitalism as a methodology for workers to learn the practice of democracy by controlling their own learning • Was intended to prepare workers’ for self government. • Study circles and other forms of democratic learning were invented. • Now we must adapt the methodology to the new reality. • As our case is new and we must think anew in order to act collectively anew.

  9. Si Se Puede!

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