Integral “Third-Way” American Politics: an article

Source: integrallife.com

Let me suggest to you a very interesting article,  about the topic of “Integral Politics”, in the “Integral Life” website, by Corey W. deVos.

While surveying the current American political landscape, it can be easy to feel as though the country is divided into two radically opposing populations: the Left and the Right. When watching the speeches, interviews, and debates on either side of the fence, there is such an incredible difference between the tone, rhetoric, and messages coming from the two major political parties that many pundits have commented that it is as though we live in two utterly different Americas, with very little overlap between the two. But the truth is, we do not live in two Americas, but in a single America composed of at least four or five different sets of values, all crammed together into a two-party political system that is becoming increasingly incapable of representing these wildly different perspectives. Many are beginning to recognize this systemic inadequacy and are searching for a genuinely Integral “Third Way” politics—a new way to break free from the restrictions of such rigidly calcified party lines, transcending both sides of the partisan divide, including the very best of both parties, without resorting to the effete compromise of mere centrism that has been typical of the political “Third Way” to date.

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Is Obama Integral? Ken Wilber speaks about it

On January 20, 2009, Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States.  Integral Life asked several former Integral Life and Integral Naked guests to share their impressions of this historic election—and here they are!

I suggest you to read below the Ken Wilber impressions published in the website:

“There probably hasn’t been as much rampantly enthusiastic idealism surrounding a president since the election of John F. Kennedy than there is around Barack Obama. In the Integral community, this naturally translates into the question, “Is Obama Integral?”

I have put off responding to this question until now, first, because I didn’t want to get involved in active politics (because there is as yet no Integral Politics in place), but second (and over-riding the first), I don’t think we’ve have enough genuine information to tell. Notice, for example, that a major watchdog organization ranked Obama in the top 1 or 2 most liberal senators in Congress—hardly a badge of integral inclusiveness.

And yet, particularly as the campaign progressed, Obama began making increasingly Integral-sounding pronouncements. In fact, an Integral analysis of his acceptance speech by Corey deVos and Clint Fuhs showed a genuinely high percentage of Integrally-comprehensive language and ideas (especially compared to the other candidates). It seems, in fact, that somewhere during the campaign itself, Obama went from green exit (the pluralistic stage of development, with its inherently high liberalism) to initial teal Integral waves (the first Integral stages of development, with inherent Integrally-oriented political stances). Increasingly his language and his values systems seemed to shift, right before one’s eyes, into Integral spaces.

It is, of course, still too soon to make a solid judgment about this, but it seems safe to say that Barack Obama is likely moving into truly Integral waves of development and therefore beginning to evidence truly Integral values and positions. Combined with his already significantly developed states (which gives the very notable Radiance and Presence to his being), this means we might very well be seeing, certainly for the first time in this century, a truly Integrally-oriented President of the United States. In this climate of possibility, reigns the intense idealism and sense of promise that this new President brings with him: the hope and promise that a new tomorrow is truly possible, and that it is beginning now, right now. If so, this is indeed a genuinely historical moment, when Integral consciousness has actually descended in and through the voice and vision of the most powerful person on the planet. We are truly beginning to enter the Integral Age, and Barack Obama’s voice might be the most notable and important Integral voice in the political arena. How can we know for sure? Stay tuned!”

Some articles about “Integral Politics”

Some weeks ago I added a post named “What is ‘Integral Politics’ about? The thoughts of Ken Wilber”. Here I add two articles about the same topic (taken from the reading room of the website Integralworld-Exploring theories of everything). My hope is that Barack Obama has an integral perspective in politics.

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by Tsevis

“Some thoughts on integral politics” by Ken Wilber

“Dimensions of integral politics” by Gregory Wilpert

What is “Integral Politics” about? The thoughts of Ken Wilber

One of my favourite intellectual interests, at the moment, is the integral perspective in many sectors of daily life, such as spirituality, social issues, politics, among others. Ken Wilber is the leader of this “movement” (even though I know he would not be happy me to use this term…)

I want to share with you his ideas about the integral perspective in politics, through a “You Tube” video recorded during a conference, some months before Barack Obama became the U.S. president elected.

In this speech, Wilber speaks about Don Beck‘s “Spiral Dynamics” theory which can be useful to know if you want to fully understand the Wilber’s integral politics perspective.

I believe a real “change” in politics should be “integral”. In my blog, I will soon add other papers, videos and links about this topic. Stay tuned…