To overcome the deep divides we face today, I believe that we need to move beyond the paradigm of democracy.

Whether rightly or wrongly, democracy today has become inextricably associated with elections, political parties, campaigns, and debates. While many are fighting to ‘save’ or ‘renew’ democracy in light of its demise and the threats of an authoritarian future increasingly likely in many parts of the world, I do not find it an inspiring clarion call to try and save the status quo. It is precisely because the risk of authoritarianism is so strong that we need a compelling and hopeful alternative.

We need to establish new institutions, processes, rituals, and spaces, and I believe that these should centre deliberation in a more relational, more-than-human worldview.

What do we call this new paradigm?

How do we design new processes, institutions, rituals, and spaces in such a way that maximises these three Cs (complexity, collective wisdom & common ground)?

What processes and methodologies encourage these?

What does the ecosystem of institutions look like and how does it work together?

What new or revived rituals do we need to intentionally introduce or celebrate?

How do we design the physical and the virtual spaces to enable these epistemic conditions?

How should we design to maximise the constructive side of humanity?

There are two aspects to more-than-human.

One is the aspect of our relationship to place that is not just about city or country, but about our relationship with the living world.

The other aspect is about our relationship with AI and technology, which is also reshaping our relationships with one another.

How do we live in more harmonious relationships with one another, the living world, and AI?