How do we develop a shared vision?

Many noted thinkers and policy makers have articulated the need for developing a shared vision for the future of America (e.g. Alperovitz, 1997;Costanza, 1999; Meadows, 1996; Thurow, 1996). Countless councils, conferences, committees and debates- within the U.S. Government, between governments, at the World Bank, in Academia, among NGOS- have attempted to define sustainability and sustainable development (e.g. The President’s Council on Sustainable Development; the UN's conference on the environment in Rio de Janeiro 1992.). Dozens of books outline visions for a sustainable America (e.g. Daly and Cobb, jr. 1994; Sitarz (ed.) 1998). Unfortunately, the result is innumerable visions representing the individuals or homogenous groups that produced them. Bickering over differences between these visions depletes the energy required to attain the objectives they have in common. The goal of sustainability is too big to achieve without agreement and concerted action, which can only happen through a shared vision. Developing a shared vision of a sustainable America demands a participatory democratic process that is credible to both policy makers and citizens. To achieve this goal requires:

a format that breaks away from the mold of experts meeting with each other to define and solve society’s problems, and instead engages stakeholders to define and address the problems that affect them. This format must create the conditions for an effective dialogue between diverse stakeholders who seldom interact;

the active participation of all the major stakeholder groups in our society. Otherwise, the vision will be regarded as just another special interest agenda;

an understanding of the past and present as a prelude to developing a vision of the future;

an agreement to explore and validate existing conflicts and differences, but set them aside to focus on common ground, i.e. issues on which all participants agree

Future search conferences, such as the first ESDA workshop held on January 8, 2001 at the Oberlin University Lewis Environmental Center are a step in the right direction. However, workshops such as this demand a substantial commitment of time, which few people are willing to contribute. While we did have considerable diversity at the first ESDA workshop, we certainly did not represent the dreams and aspirations of all Americans. And if we are to create a vision of a sustainable and desirable America for all Americans, then those who take part in creating the vision must represent all Americans.

Needless to say, this is a formidable task. In spite of the billions spent annually on political elections, fewer than half of eligible voters will use 45 minutes of their time to voice their opinion concerning a desirable present. And we do not want to limit our vision simply to eligible voters. Ultimately, we hope to develop a vision that uncovers the common ground between conservatives and progressives, rich and poor, the young and old, business and labor, government and non-governmental organizations, academia and religion, recent immigrants, descendants of the Mayflower and indigenous Americans. Participants in this quest must mirror America’s political, social, economic and ethnic diversity. It might appear at first glance that such a disparate group could have nothing in common. One thing all of us do have in common however is concern for our children and our children’s children, and this is exactly the area where we are seeking common ground.

We will be holding more future search conferences that do reach out to a more representative cross section of Americans. Our next is tentatively scheduled for January, 2002. However, we need to develop other means of reaching out to access the opinions, views and desires of all Americans and even of people from other countries who affect and are affected by what happens in America. When fully developed, we anticipate that this Web site will facilitate the type of exchange needed to create a vision, but more is needed. We welcome your suggestions.

Ultimately, the envisioning process must be built into the very political process by which America is governed. Visions change. As we work towards what now seems to be the most desirable and sustainable America, we will find that some options disappear, while other now unforeseen continually appear. We do not intend to provide a blueprint that must be followed, but to create an adaptive process in which we all work together towards a clear but constantly evolving vision of the future. Part of our vision for the future is that America will evolve towards a strong, participatory democracy, in which citizens are citizens in the fullest sense of the word, with an active voice in government. Citizens would work together to develop a shared vision that would serve to guide the policy-making process. If a policy does not help us attain our vision of a sustainable and desirable America, it should not be a policy. To find our more about how such a government would work and play an important role in creating a sustainable and desirable America, we refer you to Prugh, T., R. Costanza and H. Daly (1999) The Local Politics of Global Sustainability. (Island Press, Washington, D.C.)