The Dilemma in Political Activity

As usual, if we are to understand dynamics and related problems in political life, then we must identify the duality that energizes and disturbs people. All the cross-level influences of the Groupings of political life will be affected.

In this case, the dilemma can be represented as: Integrative vDivisive.

• The integrative pole relates to actions, ideas, issues, choices, statements, principles or theories that are inclusive and bring all groups in society together.
• The divisive pole relates to the same activities provoking, forcing, identifying or highlighting differences, often seemingly irreconcilable, within a society.

This duality may be referred to in various ways, e.g.

• unifying v splitting
• inclusive v exclusive
• wider group v in-group
• societal v sectional
• public v private

Both poles are required and overuse of one pole will distort political life and weaken society. Each Level must now be examined in turn, but the general pattern is known. We will find that …

• at some Levels (Groupings) the poles are discrete and require separate Centres. This is the case when mobilizing-CG3, authorizing-CG5 and manifesting political will-CG6. So, in these cases, we need to determine which pole is dominant;

  &

• for other Groupings in political life—enabling stability-CG7, proposing public policies-CG4, political work-CG2, and social commitment-CG1—we must expect that both poles will naturally and spontaneously fuse or synthesize in the Centre, which is said to be balanced.

Formulae

The integrative/unifying Centres will be identified with a subscript I.

The divisive/splitting Centres will be identified with a subscript D.

The balanced Centres will be identified with a subscript B.

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• Now apply the integrative/divisive duality to each Level of political life.

Originally posted: August-2009; Last updated: 15-Nov-2010

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All posted material is part of a scientific project and should be regarded as provisional. Visitors are encouraged to think through the topics and propositions for themselves. Copyright © Warren Kinston 2009-2016.
All Rights Reserved.

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