Q. Looking into the future, do you see some predictable developments?

A. Obviously, the coming decades are characterized by the global crisis, the beginnings of which we already feel today. I see three major possibilities. First of all, there is a major chance, that problems like climate change, hunger and violence will run out of control. In that case the world will be plunged into chaos.

Secondly, state and big business - who cause these disastrous developments - take it as an opportunity to tighten their grip on society, with the justification of.....controlling the chaos.....to prevent worse....or even to "protect us from further environmental degradation". The consequence is tyranny.

Thirdly, alarmed by these developments, large groups of people will reclaim their sovereignty in an attempt to establish true democracy. They will do this by organizing society bottom-up, to start with the street, the neighborhood, the commune, the county and the commonwealth. In that case the earth might be saved from worse.

Q. The New World View eventually leads to A New Community, am I right?

A. The "Web of Life" is the Material Body of the Great Mother*. It is continuously being born out of Her Lap. This web is characterized by the interconnectedness of its numerous parts and events. Since ancient times well-being, peace and harmony on earth are only guaranteed, if the "microcosm is reflecting the macrocosm". It implies, that in order to know "how to live well, you have to know the cosmic (the Mother's) law". As we have said before materialism and individualism (both part of patriarchy) are disturbing the interdependency on which we all rely.

Q. Which will have consequences for the arrangement of society.

A. Hence, the urgency of extending our principle of restoring the unity with "Heaven, earth and the (new) community" into a concrete social model. We have called this model the "natural socio-political order". In this order the Community is reclaiming its central role.

Q. Which isn't the case today.

A. As we all know the Community - the Living Body of the people - has been completely destroyed during the last centuries. Nowadays "society" consists of the state on the one hand and the masses of unorganized individuals on the other, a situation which very soon will run out of hand. In our concept the foundation of society is the Community though, with the "state" being its "administration" (only).

Q. Indeed the process of disintegration is becoming visible on every level.

A. What has to be changed is the return of sovereignty to the Community. Social order has to be rebuilt bottom-up, based on local councils, to begin with the families, the streets, the neighborhoods and the communes up to the region and the commonwealth, everything having a "organic" relationship to each other. The principle of subsidiarity should be introduced, saying that what can be done by a "lower" level, should not be done by a "higher".

Q. What about leadership?

A. Leaders should be representatives of the various levels, being responsible toward their own local Community. Elections will take place according to the consensus model. Women should be playing a crucial role, reclaiming their power according to their position of being the central figures in life. Cooperation should prevail rather than competition. Eventually, in order to save the world the "Fremdkörper" of science, technology and economy have to become integrated, e.g. become democratically controlled by the community.

Q. Not an easy task.

A. The bottom-up model of society is very practical. It starts with the individual, who decides which responsibilities he or she will take in his or her own hands. The things he/she cannot manage he/she delegates to the family/group. The family/group decides which responsibilities it will take in its own hands. The things it cannot manage it delegates to the street. The street decides which responsibilities it will take in its own hands.

Q. And this up to the highest level?

A. Yes indeed. The things the street cannot manage will be delegated to the neighborhood. The neighborhood decides which responsibilities it will take in its own hands. The things it cannot manage will be delegated to the commune. The commune will decide which responsibilities it will take in its own hands. The things it cannot manage will be delegated to the county. The county will decide which responsibilities it it will take in its own hands. The things it cannot manage will be delegated to the greater region....(EU).

Everything according to the principle of subsidiarity, that says, that everything
a "lower" level can do, may not be taken over by a "higher"

Q. What have been the sources of inspiration?

A. One source of inspiration* is that of the Great Learning (Ta Hsüeh). It is one of the four Confucian Classics, probably written by Tseng Tzu (China, 400 BCE), one of the followers of Confucius. Compared to the moral rules and prescriptions of other main world religions, the Great Learning is conspicuously dynamic, universal and especially suitable to our time.

Q. Is there a specific text people can refer to?

A. That's right. The text begins as follows: „In ancient times, one who intended to carry out enlightened action in the world, had to first rule his state well. To rule his state well, he had to first manage his property. To manage his property, he had to bring harmony in his family. To bring harmony in his family, he had to become aware of his true Self. In order to become aware of his true Self, he had to bring order in his thinking. In order to bring order in his thinking he extended his knowledge. To extend his knowledge he had to investigate all things".

Q. Please, continue.

A. A modern version could be this: „How to realize a sustainable world, without first establishing an ecological economy. How to establish an ecological economy, without first taking the future of our region in our own hands. How to take the future of our region in our own hands, without first bringing order in our neighborhood. How to bring order in our neighborhood, without first managing our own household well. How to manage our own household well, if we fail to take care of our own health. How to take care of our own health, without first finding our inner balance". How to balance ourselves without realizing our True Self".

Q. Are there other sources as well?

A. The second source is Johannes Althusius (1557-1638), Rector of the Reformed Academy of Herborn (Germany), mentor of Count John of Nassau (brother of William of Orange) later City-Counselor ("Syndik") of Emden. His main work ("Politica") - a "grand design" for a decentralized federal Union, based on Community self-rule, subsidiarity and solidarity - was published in 1603. (See Transformation Manifesto).

Q. Besides....

A. The third source includes various feminist writers, who reclaim the central role of women in the Community, something I strongly support. 

Q. In building a New Society you often emphasize different roles for men and women. Could you elaborate? 

A. In our New "Socio-Political Order" the gender roles are different. Principle is the "Law of the Universe", according to which life consists of "death and rebirth", while subsequently fitting in in the Web of Life (once again). "Death and rebirth" are more male-oriented, while the feminine principle (which doesn't always runs parallel to concrete women) is represented by "interconnectedness". This means, that women constitute the substance of life. They have great talents aimed at optimally maintaining and promoting life. Therefore, women are superior to men in areas like communication, emotional intelligence etc.  

The reason why until now women have not find their true destiny, is that they always had to make a choice between the "family and a profession" only. "Profession" in this respect meant, that they had to pursue a career in the patriarchal system of competition. Many women simply were not able e.g. willing! to cope (obviously). What was lacking was a clear distinction between "society" and "community". The new thing here is the emphasis on the community as an (politically!) independent public space. It is here that women may find the possibilities for their careers. To rebuilt the community is a varied, challenging and professional responsibility. Because women are the foundation of the community, it is them who are especially called to taking a leading position here. The mission of the men is complementary. However, it is not at all less important.

The role of men has become much more unclear, due to the decay of the patriarchal system. Some women would say: it is their own fault. Although this thesis has its justification in reality (however, not forgetting the "collaboration" of women in this regard), its position proves to be very shortsighted. While women always can fall back on their "substance" - house, family, friends, neighbors - the men on the other hand appear to be totally depending on their role e.g. position in society.It is the cause of the fact, that - with society disintegrating in the last decades - they have lost "all ground under their feet". It is a potentially very dangerous situation. "Men's (re)education" therefore has utmost priority. It consists of restoring new style ("old") masculine values: those of self-sacrifice in the service of the Whole. 

Q. Thanks for your kind elaboration.

A. You are welcome.

Major information can be found in our "Transformation Manifesto for the 21st Century". Unfortunately, this key text has
not been translated into English yet. Who helps? (From German or Dutch into English).