The Partnership Model of Social Functioning
Edward Kaler, M.Sc., C.R.C. © 1992Over the course of time there have been numerous revolutions of one sort or another with various reasons for social transformation. Many of these changes have been quite violent, and have set back ideals of personal independence, equality, and freedom of thought. But in spite of violent opposition toward those higher goals of justice, non-violence, and equality people have continually fought back to set themselves free of authoritarian thinking and control. Various political movements such as the employment Unions, Women's Suffrage movement, the Equal Rights Amendment, and the Green Party started with the intent of breaking free of dominant power-over politics.
There is yet another movement for social transformation which is incorporating the basic philosophical concerns of all life-affirming causes and seeks to explore an integrated approach to the major personal and social problems of our time. It has been the intention of this movement to strongly encourage women and men to live more harmoniously with one another and our natural environment. This movement is called The Partnership Way, or the Partnership Paradigm (model). The "Partnership Model" stresses holistic economic, social, and ecological structuring based on ancient traditions such as in Crete which upheld the "chalice" (as womb/life affirming) as the highest power because it represented the power to give life (birth), not destroy it.
The development of dominator societies are based upon physical and psychological control, and are identified as the root of war, abuse, exploitation, and rape of other humans and our natural world. Dysfunctional family systems and the "Dominator Model" are interconnected. Both are based on control and the way female and male relations are structured which directly affects our values, institutions, and cultural evolution. This dysfunctionalism is rampant, and is a social problem not just a personal one. We have been socialized to conform to family and economic systems based on control rather than cooperation. The "Dominator Model" stresses hierarchical, power-over structuring of society in which economic, cultural, social, and spiritual control is wielded by a comparatively elite few who uphold the "blade" (as weapon) as the highest power through aggression and dominance over the many, and has brought us to the brink of social, economic, and environmental destruction.
The ways of change from a "Dominator Model" to a "Partnership Model" are very basic, but also extremely vital for any positive change to occur. The changes which are stressed are ones of:
A) Semantics (Definitions and usage of words to describe our personal environment, and the ways in which we interrelate with the world around us.)
B) Sensitivity and respect for cultural, and lifestyle diversity where the unique talents of individuals are recognized and reinforced.
C) The ability to focus on changing our lives from within which ultimately affects the outer world.
D) Open discussions which includes empathy (the ability to understand what another has experienced, by hearing/seeing their perspective).
E) Formal Consensus Decision-Making (A prescribed foundation, structure, and collection of techniques for efficient and productive group discussions which allows for a melding of both goal and process oriented dialogues.)
The language of the "Partnership Model" is powerful and is expressed in terms such as:
* "Power with and equalitarianism" instead of power over and submissiveness to.
* "Linking" instead of ranking.
* "Circling, consensus, and proportional representation" instead of hierarchy and majority rules.
Other examples of vocabulary and beliefs are the use of her-story in addition to his-story; peaceful coexistence; conflict resolution; sharing; creativity; and spiritual awareness which recognizes the equality, worth, and balance of both sexes and the diverse ways they choose to express themselves.
To help gain an anthropological perspective on the above mentioned issues we can look at past life ways. It has been assumed by many anthropologists who have a dominator consciousness and who have investigated past civilizations that if a society wasn't patriarchal then it must have been matriarchal, since someone had to dominate. However, there has been a second look at past cultures, and increasingly there seems to be strong indications that some societies attempted to live in respectful interconnectedness with each other and the natural world.
The "Partnership Model" does not presuppose that perfection can be found in the use of life-affirming constructs. For every individual there is a different way of interacting and living depending upon one's own exposure to the world. However, this paradigm does suggest very strong life sharing values which can go a long way to reforming a world which too long has depended upon domination, control, and fear as a way of "life".
The use of group study/discussion is encouraged to discover viable, practical steps for moving toward a healthier, partnership way of living and learning that is personally, socially, and ecologically balanced. These groups can re-examine "traditional" stories and images that imply that the existing social system is "just the way things are", and co-create new stories, images, thoughts and action scripts that voice and shape practical new visions and nurture life-supporting ways of feeling, thinking, and acting.
Some recommended books to assist in thinking about the Partnership Model are "THE CHALICE AND THE BLADE" by Riane Eisler; its companion study guide "THE PARTNERSHIP WAY" by Riane Eisler and David Loye; "TRUTH AND DARE" by Starhawk; and various other books such as the "TAO-TE-CHING" by Lao-tzu.
THERE ARE 4 MAJOR AREAS OF THE PARTNERSHIP MODEL
WITHIN WHICH WE CAN WORK FOR CHANGE:
1) The first is within ourselves. This is to allow ourselves the opportunity to look at our thinking and feelings as relates to our inner world and our views about sharing rather than dominating.
2) Second is to take our inner transformation and use it to manifest the partnership model by relating with others in a non-dominator fashion.
3) Thirdly is to relate within social and business organizations by linking rather than ranking, and using consensus as much as possible instead of always majority rules which oftentimes leaves a vast minority without a voice.
4) And last but not least is to form an alliance with the vast ecosystem within which we live. To come to a realization that humans are not superior to all other living and non-living systems. For us to maintain a healthful way of life we absolutely must live in harmony with mother earth and her environment.
