The new state : $b Group organization the solution of popular governmentFollett, Mary Parker
Science
The new state : $b Group organization the solution of popular government
Follett, Mary Parker
Democracy; Political participation; Social psychology; State, The
The startling truth that the war is bringing home to many of us is that
unity must be something more than a sentiment, it must be an actual
system of organization. We are now beginning to see that if you want the
fruits of unity, you must _have_ unity, a real unity, a coöperative
collectivism. Unity is neither a sentiment nor an intellectual
conception, it is a psychological process produced by actual psychic
interaction.
How shall we gain a practical understanding of this essential unity of
man? By practising it with the first person we meet; by approaching
every man with the consciousness of the complexity of his needs, of the
vastness of his powers. Much is written of the power of history and
tradition in giving unity to a community or nation. This has been
overemphasized. If this were the only way of getting unity, there would
be little hope for the future in America, where we have to make a unity
of people with widely differing traditions, and little hope for the
future in Europe where peace is unthinkable unless the past can be
forgotten and new ties made on the basis of mutual understanding and
mutual obligation. To have democracy we must live it day by day.
Democracy is the actual commingling of men in order that each shall have
continuous access to the needs and the wants of others. Democracy is not
a form of government; the democratic soul is born within the group and
then it develops its own forms.
Democracy then is a great spiritual force evolving itself from men,
utilizing each, completing his incompleteness by weaving together all in
the many-membered community life which is the true Theophany. The world
to-day is growing more spiritual, and I say this not in spite of the
Great War, but because of all this war has shown us of the inner forces
bursting forth in fuller and fuller expression. The Great War has been
the Great Call to humanity and humanity is answering. It is breaking
down the ramparts to free the way for the entrance of a larger spirit
which is to fill every single being by interflowing between them all.
France, England, America—how the beacon lights flash from one to the
other—the program of the British Labor Party, the speeches of our
American President, the news of the indomitable courage of France—these
are like the fires in Europe on St. John’s Eve, which flash their
signals from hill-top to hill-top. Even the school children of France
and America write letters to each other. American men and women are
working for the reconstruction of France as they would work for the
reconstruction of their own homes—and all this because we are all
sharing the same hope. A new faith is in our hearts. The Great War is
the herald of another world for men. The coming of democracy is the
spiritual rebirth. We have been told that our physical birth and life
are not all, that we are to be born again of water and the spirit. Not
indeed of _water_ and spirit, but of _blood_ and spirit, are the warring
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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