Message-ID: <KF16+HKySlA@ssc.msu.edu> Date: Mon, 22 Apr 1996 15:07:23 EDT From: Don Osbor <mailto:don.osborn@SSC.MSU.EDU> Subject: Re: Massacre and Development To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Steve Worth wrote: > Anyone have any good ideas on how one goes about creating unity...?
Not sure, but one starting point is realizing that achievement of unity, peace, and justice are intertwined (as per other writings of Baha'u'llah). These have begun to seem to me like co-requisites. You cannot (long) have one without the others. It's a non-linear process...
Moreover, peace, justice, and unity must be concurrently developed on local, regional, and international levels. In other words a systemic change (like water changing to steam?) towards which many small efforts on various levels and perhaps certain key events or accomplishments will contribute.
Examples? On a local level a possible example is Norman Uphoff's case of the Gal Oya irrigation project in sotheastern Sri Lanka. After years of problems and struggles, a relatively simple innovation led to a cascade of positive changes--even a degree of unity among Sinhalese and Tamil farmers in the project area.
In his analysis, Uphoff discusses many ways in which "Newtonian" social science could not account for the events observed in Gal Oya. Of particular interest here might be his discussion of three sources of "positive social energy"--ideas, ideals, and friendship (ref. Michaels' mention on this list of "common interests & exciting goals"). How many development efforts really address these areas (granted participatory methods are beginning to bring ideas of people [outside the professions] into the equation)?
One might also add a fourth source--a spiritual one. Despite its apparent proclivity for promoting conflict, religion also has historically served to unite previously hostile groups and inspire change. An example is the Baha'i community in Iran during the 19th and early 20th century, composed of people from Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and Zoroastrian backgrounds who came together to achieve material and educational advances in villages where they were predominant (an interesting development story; unfortunately their success may have helped fuel clergy-led opposition to this religion in current Iran).
Tapping sources of "positive social energy" in the process of development may be a key to promoting peace, justice, and unity.
Don Osborn mailto:osborndo@pilot.msu.edu don.osborn@ssc.msu.edu Michigan State University