Impetus for Change

Overview

So far intra-level and inter-level influences have been considered. Now it is time to look at influences that cross two levels.

Making changes to handle heightened political tensions in society appears to depend on:

• Societal Management (CG6 ↔ CG4) i.e. ensuring political will leads to relevant policy proposals, and that proposals resolve differencesin accord with the political will.
• Societal Cohesion (CG5 ↔ CG3) i.e. ensuring authority arrangements are responsive to a mobilized citizenry, and that mobilization can influence the practice of government.
• Personal Conviction (CG4 ↔ CG2) i.e. ensuring that political work affects policy-making, and policy proposals affect political work.
• Personal Principles (CG3 ↔ CG1) by ensuring mobilization flows from genuine socio-political responsibility, and conversely that social responsibility translates into mobilization around values.

Note that CG7 ↔ CG5 is missing. Stability maintenance-CG7 cannot bypass Political Will-CG6 to have a direct influence on society's authority mechanisms-CG5, either its Governing Institutions or its Current Leadership.
Why?

Societal Management: CG6 ↔ CG4

Political will-CG6 can be expected to have a powerful influence on public policy proposals-CG4_B, and the reverse also holds true. However, there are two Centres at CG6 and therefore two Channels to CG4.

CG6_I ↔ CG4_B: Sustaining the social order is a concern of all and therefore it must affect resolution of differences. Similarly proposals for policy on such issues will either disrupt or sustain the social order.

The Channel is named: Societal Maintenance.

CG6_D ↔ CG4_B The will for essential reform puts conviction into policy proposals, and conversely the specifics of proposals bolster the public will for reform by demonstrating feasibility and progress.

The Channel is named: Societal Reforms.

Societal Cohesion: CG5 ↔ CG3

There are potentially four Channels between Authorization Arrangements-CG5 and Mobilization for Results-CG3, but only two appear to be active. Like the 3 intra-level channels at L3, L5 and L6, these link divisive and unifying Centres.

CG5_I ↔ CG3_D: Organized mobilization is a major factor in how things get done in political life. So governing institutions and organized mobilizations interact e.g., activists commonly monitor the progress of new legislation so as to target vulnerable stages.

The Channel is named: Societal Adaptation.

CG5_D ↔ CG3_U: The current leadership cannot ignore spontaneous demonstrations around an emotive issue; and spontaneous demonstrations may be provoked or soothed by what society’s leaders say and do.

The Channel is named: Societal Support.

.Why don't the other two Channels exist?

• Governing systems and procedures-CG5_I are irrelevant to spontaneous demonstrations-CG3_I (and vice versa). Indirect influence might occur via current leaders-CG5_D or the process of generating policy proposals-CG4_B.
• Current leader-CG5_D cannot interact directly with organized mobilization-CG3_D because the former’s focus is too general and the latter’s is too specialized. The linkage therefore occurs via presenting (by leaders) or lobbying (by factions) in relation to needed policy inquiries and relevant emergent policy ideas-CG4_B.

Personal Conviction: CG4 ↔ CG2

Resolution of differences via policy proposals-CG4_B need to generate political work-CG2_B, either in their support, in their refinement or in critical opposition. This influence reveals how convinced a person is in their views. Similarly, political work is likely to be focussed on highlighting differences and pushing for inquiries and proposals that deal with issues, or with rectifying failings in societal institutions.

The CG4_B ↔ CG2_B Channel is named: Personal Conviction.

Personal Principles: CG3 ↔ CG1

There two Centres in Mobilization -CG3 and therefore two Channels to the single balanced Social Responsibility-CG1 Centre.

CG3_I ↔ CG1_B
Organized mobilization depends on social responsibility of those who are formally or informally part of the faction doing the organising. Similarly, factional responsibility can activate calls to mobilize.

The Channel is named: Political Loyalty.

CG3_I ↔ CG1_B
Spontaneous demonstration are natural expressions of social responsibility, and demonstrations need to be carried out responsibly. One of the difficulties is the hijacking of such events by factions seeking to discredit or generate violence.

The Channel is named: Personal Integrity.

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• Now check influences that operate across 3 levels or more. Only one of these will turn out to be viable, but it is important because it anchors political life in its proper rationale.

  or:

• Go straight to the final picture and a review.

Originally posted: Aug-2009; Last updated: 15-Nov-2010.