Introduction

There are moments in history when there are major breakthroughs in the power of social movements. Large numbers of people recognize the depth of injustice, see possibilities of beauty and integrity heretofore unknown, and find new forms of coming together to bring about change. We are living in such a time. We also live in a time of genuine threat – rising authoritarianism, racism, and xenophobia, increasing environmental degradation, morally unconscionable income and wealth disparities, a dangerously militarized police force, and a criminal justice system that disproportionately targets people who are African American, Native American and Latinx. Moreover, we are confronting ongoing threats of war and terrorism, escalating Islamophobia, and a national political system that is largely ineffective, paralyzed by increasingly high levels of division and polarization. We are in a struggle for the very soul of democracy, and all that we hold dear - interdependence, reason, compassion, respect for all human beings, and stewardship of the natural world that sustains us,– is under direct, unabashed assault. This book is meant for those who are concerned about dangers to our democracy, and to our social health as a nation. It is for those who desire to work for social justice, and to respond to essential protests by enacting progressive change.

Just Living

In this chapter we explore the ethical and spiritual challenges of altermodern, catalytic social engagement. Our role is not to simply denounce the real and announce the ideal. Our role is to be catalysts of justice, learning from the courage, the achievements, the limitations and even the failures of those who have embodied this commitment to equity, flourishing and plenitude in the past and are living it out now in their work as elected officials, as professionals, citizens and community activists.

“Belonging, Not Belongings”

The redefinition of abundance and success that we see in the world of social entrepreneurship may seem new, but it is not. There are many other cultures who have lived out an economy of gratitude and reciprocity. We can learn from them, from their mistakes, from their successes, and from their honest accounts of what it takes to live with a greater awareness of interdependence.

Global Connections and Cultural Humility

The fundamental goal of Engagement Scholarship is straightforward: the creation of mutually beneficial partnerships between universities and local communities to solve pressing social issues. The fulfillment of this goal requires learning two complex sets of skills and knowledges:How to be aware of histories of exploitation and injustice, and the likelihood of repeating those patterns in the present;How to create structures of genuinely working together to solve problems for the long haul – not short term or ideologically driven, naïve, or inappropriate fixes.

“Go Social, Go Green”

Progressives are accustomed to seeing work for social justice and environmental sustainability being expressed in political advocacy and in direct service to victims of injustice. We often are not aware of the ways in which we are not alone in our work for justice, but have allies in the business community. This chapter explores this burgeoning world of social entrepreneurship, its drivers, its impact, and its practical and ethical challenges.

“The Lightning of Possible Storms”

Once we recognize that a situation is unjust, once we grant the imperative of including the voices and experiences of all peoples, how then do we work together to build just and creative institutions? A twofold form of social engagement, with as much attention to implementation and impact as to critique or vision, is possible because of nuanced histories of successful social movements and of contemporary developments in the behavioral sciences. This chapter explores what it means to live out a theology of liberation from the point of view of the oppressor who genuinely sees the cost of systemic injustice, sees their/our role in perpetuating that system, and commits to using their/our power in solidarity with the oppressed and in the service of equitable human flourishing.

A Declaration of Interdependence

Our context is one of growing threats, resilient critique, and deeply rooted alternative forms of inclusive and expansive social life. We are now experiencing a rise of authoritarianism in the United States that is as dangerous as the anti-Communism of the McCarthy era of the 1950s, potentially as deadly as the eradication of basic political and human rights for African Americans after the Reconstruction period following the civil war. We are also witnessing a resurgence in authoritarianism not seen in Europe since the rise of fascism in the 1930s. What is missing in much of the literature on authoritarianism is a recognition that what fuels interdependent creativity and expansive civic engagement is not emancipated individualism but openness to the new grounded in the solidity of the same. The ‘same’ is generative connections between adults and youth, and community practices of resilience, acknowledging and learning from both mistakes and successes. This book is meant to enable readers to take on this challenge with honesty and creativity, aware of the particularity of our experiences as members of different racial and social groups, and as members of different economic classes. First, we must be honest, acknowledging the scale of racist exploitation and its ongoing impact. Will we learn from the past and present structures of white exploitation and violence? Will we learn how to check these practices in the present?

Conclusion

We are not seeking an expansion of economic prosperity and political rights only for ourselves as individuals, or even only for our particular social and cultural group. A society that truly values all is genuinely better for all: it overcomes the isolation and arrogance of class and race based social systems; it embodies the joy and creativity of plentitude, reciprocity, and generative interdependence.