The Politics of Understanding: Founding Principles
Talking to friends and colleagues these days, I see many people converging on a kind of political standpoint that I’d call ‘The Politics of Understanding’. It’s maybe centuries old, but it’s not entirely articulated by any of our political parties today. It’s there in the politics of compassion and in the work of the Carl Rogers; close to the visions of Ghandi or Martin Luther King; something I tried to articulate in my recent book Psychology at the Heart of Social Change: Developing a Progressive Vision for Society. It’s a politics which is progressive and focused on developing a fairer, more democratic, more accepting society; but one that also tries to take that agenda forward through accepting and deeply democratic means. To try and articulate something of some core principles:
Respect: The starting point for everything: if we are going to create a world which respects, values, and cares for others (all others), then we need to find ways of engaging politically with others that are respectful, valuing, and caring.
Equality: That everyone has the right to, and should be supported towards, a fulfilling and thriving life. Sometimes that involves standing back so that we don’t impose power over others, sometimes that involves taking an active stance and challenging the structural and in-built inequalities that can exist.
Compassion: To engage with others with care and empathy: understanding rather than blaming—a radical acceptance. Recognising that others are generally trying their best, even if we don’t always like what they are doing. Self-compassion too: to accept ourselves and to feel that we are also, generally, trying our best.
Appreciation: It’s easy to see the negative side of things—our minds seem to be built that way. And certainly there’s a lot to be critical and challenging about, like poverty, racism, and climate crisis. But a politics of understanding is also about balancing that with an appreciation of what’s going right—from good colleagues and friends to progressive political reforms.
Pluralism: There’s often many ‘right’ answers to our most serious questions—different views deserve to be respected and listened to, though not necessarily agreed with.
Complexity: Real problems in the real world rarely have simple, black-and-white answers: typically, they’re complex, nuanced, and multi-faceted. Addressing these problems in thoughtful, open-minded ways will tend to get us further than trying to impose simple solutions.
Self-reflexivity: Being able to look in on ourselves and check our reactions to situations and events, rather than just responding. Knowing, for instance, when we’re more driven by a desire to ‘be right’ than to be open to what others are saying.
Self-criticality: We’re not always right, and it’s good to acknowledge when we are not and be open to alternative viewpoints. Self-criticality as an ongoing, lifelong challenge to recognise our own biases and assumptions; not be stuck in trying to prove our ‘ego’.
Responsibility: We need to take an active stance in making things happen where we can: change is something we all need, and have a right, to be involved in. That means also leading where we can: not in dominant or controlling ways, but in serving our communities by being willing to coordinate and take the first steps forward.
Authenticity: We thrive most when we are just ourselves, and we can be most effective politically by engaging with others as the vulnerable, flawed human beings we are.
Peace: Towards a society in which people can live without the horrors of violence (and trauma and abuse), and to achieve that—wherever and whenever possible—by non-violent means.
Democracy: Each of us has an equal right and an equal say in creating the world we want to see.
Communication and dialogue: We can talk to each other to bring about change: as human beings, with respect, through listening and through genuinely communicating our wants and needs.
Diversity: Things thrive with more difference, more possibilities, more colour. Politics can be about welcoming rather than about being afraid.
Acknowledgement
Image by Julie Allan: https://julesallan.co.uk/
