Routledge Integral Community: Political Economy to Social Commons (Transformation and Innovation)

Integral Community moves the transformation journey for enterprises and society on from the stages covered in earlier books in Gower's Transformation and Innovation Series, which describe a new macro-economic framework and which have examined alternative development with different local communities, bringing wide cultural perspectives to practical implementation of authentic or integral development. Here, the authors argue that there are two major fields of force prevailing in today's world. The one reflects our common heritage, whereby East and West, North and South are coming ever closer together - the global commons. The other reflects local and national singularity, where the notion of feeding off ancient local heritage and talent is key. They also identify four different culturally laden worldviews as Southern - humanistic, Eastern - holistic, Northern - rational, and Western - pragmatic. The enterprise and social innovation in Africa with which Lessem's co-authors are involved provides an object lesson in the sort of differentiation and integration needed in order to operate, socio-economically, with local identity and global integrity. It provides in this case a 'Southern' worldview background against which to examine communally based self-sufficiency; culturally based developmental economy; knowledge based social economy; and finally, the move towards what the authors describe as a living economy. All illustrated through a rural case, Chinyika, with which they have been intimately involved, whereby 100,000 have become self sufficient over the past five years. Integral Community should be read by academics and students of business, economics, development studies and agriculture, and by policy makers, particularly those concerned with the developing world in general and Africa in particular. Review Lessem, Muchineripi, and Kada's rereading of economic and social relations is fascinating and challenging because its perspective is so deeply rooted in Southern African soil. The book is a wonderful combination of personal reflection, concrete analysis, and theoretical elaboration.' Michael Hardt, co-author of Empire, Multitude, and Commonwealth'the lives of Chidara, Steve and Ronnie indeed accentuates that the transition from exogenous foundations to indigenous origination demonstrates that there is more to each than meets the familiar eye. The Da Vinci Institute is honoured to be included as a participant of this journey of self-reflection and discovery.'Professor Bennie Anderson, CEO of Da Vinci'Although they followed different career paths in their academic and work experiences, the deep African upbringing of Chidara, Ronnie and Steve, combine well to bring out the importance of culture on the business perspective of Southern Africa and indeed the rest of the world. The trio's experience from childhood to the present brings to the fore the importance of transformational leadership in rebuilding Zimbabwe's economy on a sustainable basis through the adoption of policies deeply rooted in the soil. The link between nature, community and spirituality serves as a strong foundation for the creation of a new world economic order in which the interests of the individual and society are reconciled for the benefit of the latter. This book is imperative for both students of business and business leaders who seek an alternative to resolve societal issues where conventional philosophies have fallen short.'Kennedy Mandevani, Managing Director, Dunlop Group, Zimbabwe About the Author Ronnie Lessem is a co-founder of Trans4m (Geneva), which offers programmes on social and economic transformation and Innovation, in partnership with universities and consultancies. He is also a senior faculty member of Da Vinci Institute in South Africa. His academic career has embraced what is now the University of Zimbabwe, the LSE, and Harvard. Paul Chidara Muchineripi is Director of Business Training and Development in Harar