Leading Change: The Theory + Practice of Integrative Polarity Work
A summary of elements of my doctoral research, this article was published in World Futures: The Journal of New Paradigm Research in August 2020.
Many practitioners in the field of systems change in North America and Europe frame the current era as a time between stories, a time of opposing worldviews. This article suggests one way of navigating the increasing uncertainty and tumultuousness of the current context is through framing these worldviews as in a generative relationship with one another, rather than as oppositional, which can lead to a “from the old to the new” frame, where the new is in opposition to the old. Integrative Polarity Work is presented as a guiding approach to support individuals and groups willing to engage the tensions surrounding the perceived oppositions infusing contemporary life that are central to the creation of generative futures for all, where engaging perceived polarities can be a practice transformative personal and social change.
Donnelly, G. (2020). Leading change: The theory and practice of integrative polarity work. World Futures, 76(8), 497-518.