Where Do We Want to Go?
The Great Transition framework offers a vision and scenario rooted in the desire for a rich quality of life, strong human ties, and a resonant connection to nature.
Our huge economies have created, in principle, the conditions for a post-scarcity society where attention can turn to quality of life: human fulfillment rather than material wealth as the measure of success and well-being. A sense of connectedness and solidarity can extend beyond nation and tribe to people in distant places, future generations, and fellow inhabitants of Earth. A sense of wonder and appreciation of the natural world can flow from an appreciation of our place in the web of life and dependence on Earth’s bounty. Guided by these values, governance and economic institutions can balance the imperatives for unity and diversity, nurture social cohesion and eradicate destitution, and support human well-being and a vibrant natural world.
In a GT, cosmopolitan aspirations would meet the exigency of cooperation in a world of shared risks. The global level would be recognized as the necessary governance scale for sustaining the biosphere, keeping the peace, and cultivating an organic planetary civilization in its many dimensions. The ethical foundations of this “One World” would take inspiration from landmark documents such as the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1992 Earth Summit’s Agenda 21, and the 2000 Earth Charter.
But in One World, we would find “Many Places.” The Great Transition vision rejects the idea that there is one path only. Instead, it envisions a thriving ecosystem of diverse socio-political archetypes rooted in shared values. Journey to Earthland details three such archetypes, referred to as Agoria, Ecodemia, and Arcadia. These, respectively, represent a highly egalitarian, ecological social democracy; an economy of public and worker ownership; and a self-reliant localism. Each is grounded in a rich history and contemporary practice, and a Great Transition would bring out the best of each tradition via cross-fertilization and experimentation.
A new politics of trust, grounded in tolerance of proximate differences and the cultivation of ultimate solidarity, would guide development. Just as the integrity of “One World” depends on vibrant regions for cultural innovation, community cohesion, and democratic renewal, so, too, does the vitality of “Many Places” depend on the global political community to secure and enrich our shared civilization and planet.
Such a world is not only possible, but emerging already through myriad initiatives on the ground. Our task is to bring it fully to life.
