The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community

David C. Korten has done a wonderful job of exposing the five thousand year history of Empire building and social hierarchy around the world and it`s tragic trail of greed and control driven tyranny, but with special attention to the history of it in the U.S. and up to it's current form- corporate control and manipulation of society decimating sustainable economics, the environment- and ultimately, the health of our nation and the world. Korten relates that the U.S. Constitution was a remarkable accomplishment for it's time and along with evolving amendments to include all citizens of it's benefits, on paper at least, it appeared as a grand experiment in democracy. As Korten succinctly points out, however, every advancement in democracy and fairness has been fought against by corporate giants and the rich for selfish monopoly of the assets of our nation leaving us with a huge disparity in wealth between the relatively small numbers of elite rich in proportion to the larger numbers of middle class on down to the very poor. That there is a class structure at all is a sad commentary on equality, fairness, and our democracy. Korten proffers that the Great Turning will gain momentum when we embrace the notion that "...a proper market economy operates with rules, borders, and equitable local ownership under the public oversight of democratically accountable governments." (p 15) The Great Turning embraces the tenants of the Earth Charter in recognizing that this world is finite, resources are limited and need to be used in a sustainable/regenerative way with equal distribution for a healthy and harmonious existence for all of the world's citizens. "Creating a mature society, however, requires leadership by people of a mature consciousness." (p 48). And this is the essence of the message Korten is disseminating, I believe. His Great Turning and Yes!Magazine websites have an abundance of info and resources on taking action and organizing local groups for dialogue on the Great Turning. The Great Turning is a remarkable achievement and a monument to sustainable human conduct and relation with all other life forms and the environment that supports us all.

Book Review: The Great Turning, From Empire to Earth Community by David Korten Kumarian Press & Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc. (2006). David Korten, author of When Corporations Rule the World, delivers a powerful argument that human beings possess the potential to create an Earth Community that sustains and enhances life for all species. Between the covers of this book, Korten brings together the evidence for this potential transformation, setting it in an analysis of Empire - a 5,000 year model for organizing human communities that is presently threatening life's future on the planet. He describes being a part of a transitional generation that is realizing we are "one people sharing one destiny on one small planet." Through his years working in international aid organizations, Korten observed the natural tendency is to centralize control to create order. In this model, those who make the decisions benefit most and local people grapple with the consequences. His premise is that the health of communities depends on its ability to set economic priorities and have control over its own economic resources. Local governance is more democratic than centralized control. Korten contrasts two models for human organization, two stories about the nature of human beings that are part of a continuum of human potential, ranging from violence at one end to love and service at the other. The book argues for moving toward the positive end of our potential or else face the perilous future by clinging to an old model which results in violence toward people and the environment. This is our choice now. The challenge is one that Korten sets in the context of changing the stories that we tell about ourselves. Are we selfish, greedy individuals for which a competitive model of governing ourselves is the only truth, or are we loving, cooperative human beings who recognize the good of the whole is the good of all? Korten maintains that since these are on a continuum, we need a new model - new story - that balances these two human tendencies. For readers who may not have time or inclination to read from the progressive leaders writing about this transformative opportunity (economists, biologists, psychologists, political leaders, humanists and activists) Korten brings their works together, condensing the essential vision and experience of world leaders on the growing edge of a cultural and spiritual rising consciousness sweeping across the planet. We are entering a period of great change as a result of forces of our own creation that are largely now beyond our control. We can shape a positive outcome if we "embrace the crisis as an opportunity to lift ourselves to a new level of species maturity and potential." The two models of human organization are presented as based on two assumptions about our human nature: Empire Earth Community Life is hostile and competitive Life is supportive and cooperative Humans are flawed and dangerous Humans have ma

Drawing from a multiplicity of disciplines, The Great Turning identifies the consequences of empire and outlines a course for future corrective action. Korten leverages the work of numerous progressive thinkers and activists pulling their individual contributions together to guide the reader to his main thesis: a call for Earth Community. The well footnoted text leaves the reader with many opportunities to explore in depth the topics introduced from the fields of economics, history, psychology, theology, systems theory, biology, sociology and political science. Recognizing the turbulence of the times we live in as an opportunity, rather than a harbinger of certain disaster, Korten underscores the importance of the choice before American society: Will this be the time of the Great Unraveling or the Great Turning? The Great Turning's emphasis on choice itself is a refreshing reminder, "The capacity to anticipate and choose our future is a defining characteristic of the human species. (p.26)" Peeling back the layers of Empire's distortions and its socio-political trappings is the target of the first three sections of the book. The remaining two sections explore the realm beyond Empire: building Earth Community. Korten takes the position that developing parallel structures at the local level, in anticipation of the collapse of Empire, is the most effective way to rid ourselves of 5000 years of dominator culture. Numerous relocalization efforts across the United States are presented as evidence of a grassroots Earth Community movement already underway. A complementary Great Turning website (thegreatturning.net) highlights local community initiatives as well as provides discussion guides for the book -- and The Great Turning will undoubtedly inspire discussion. It is an ambitious book and at times falls short of delivering on the solutions for the nascent movement it puts forward, but Korten makes clear that The Great Turning is an unfinished story, and asks the reader to contribute to its narrative. The strength of the book is in its breadth and Korten's ability to connect the dots between diverse elements within our culture. Ultimately, The Great Turning is a call to action, alerting the reader to the necessity of participating in the birth of a life affirming plan for the benefit of our children and the future of the planet.

...and my expectations were high to begin with. I must confess to only being half way through it. However, it's kept me up late both nights since purchasing it. (I'm writing this at 1:36 am after staying up way past my bed time to read "just one more" chapter.) The author makes history come alive for the reader. Although I have read numerous books on history over the decades, this is the first one that explains the positive feedback loop that has allowed Empire to emerge and persist for 5000 years so far, despite the immeasurable cost to humanity and the planet. The author recommends that readers form discussion groups and provides some tools for facilitating discussion. If you'd like to join mine, come to my site's forum. This will be one of the most important books you will ever read.