Governance through metaphor
Metaphors are a special form of presentation natural to many cultures. They are of unique importance as a means of communicating complex notions, especially in interdisciplinary and multicultural dialogue, as well as in the popularization of abstract concepts, in political discourse and as part of any creative process. They offer the special advantage of calling upon a pre-existing capacity to comprehend complexity, rather than assuming that people need to engage in lengthy educational processes before being able to comprehend.
Since the early 1980s the Union of International Associations has been exploring the role of metaphor and pattern in relation to governance, understanding of world problems, articulation of more appropriate organizational strategies, transformative conferencing and dialogue, and knowledge organization. This research work has been presented at a number of international meetings. Metaphors and Patterns Project: a summary provides an overview of this work. Academic discussions on this topic written by Anthony Judge are available on his external website, at Documents relating to Metaphor for Governance and Documents relating to Culture and Aesthetics.
Rationale
Although frequently used in international debate through which strategies are defined, the advantages of metaphor have not been deliberately explored to assist in the implementation of such strategies. Each development policy may be considered a particular "answer" to the global problematique. No such answer appears to be free from fundamental weaknesses. A shift to an alternative policy becomes progressively more necessary as the effects of these weaknesses accumulate. However, since each such policy reflects a "language" or mind-set whereby a worldview is organized, no adequate "logical" framework can exist to facilitate comprehension of the nature of such a shift or of the process of transition between alternatives.
Many familiar metaphors of alternation exist through which the characteristics and limitations of such a shift may be understood. This programme is interested in the possibility of deliberately designing metaphors in support of innovative development.
Since the early 1980s the Union of International Associations has been exploring the role of metaphor and pattern in relation to governance, understanding of world problems, articulation of more appropriate organizational strategies, transformative conferencing and dialogue, and knowledge organization. This research work has been presented at a number of international meetings. Metaphors and Patterns Project: a summary provides an overview of this work. Academic discussions on this topic written by Anthony Judge are available on his external website, at Documents relating to Metaphor for Governance and Documents relating to Culture and Aesthetics.
Rationale
Although frequently used in international debate through which strategies are defined, the advantages of metaphor have not been deliberately explored to assist in the implementation of such strategies. Each development policy may be considered a particular "answer" to the global problematique. No such answer appears to be free from fundamental weaknesses. A shift to an alternative policy becomes progressively more necessary as the effects of these weaknesses accumulate. However, since each such policy reflects a "language" or mind-set whereby a worldview is organized, no adequate "logical" framework can exist to facilitate comprehension of the nature of such a shift or of the process of transition between alternatives.
Many familiar metaphors of alternation exist through which the characteristics and limitations of such a shift may be understood. This programme is interested in the possibility of deliberately designing metaphors in support of innovative development.
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