Envisioning society as an evolving organism, one might expect it to seek a return to a previously stable state. Yet, in nature, many organisms have the ability to adapt and thrive in response to change. For our society to flourish, we must nurture social change that drives democracy towards a fresh paradigm. This can be achieved by fostering new relationships that encourage understanding across our differences and collaborating to implement change.
My research focuses on transformative learning networks, which are informal social networks that prioritize learning from diverse experiences. Individuals who join these networks are willing to break free from conventional social patterns, enabling them to build new relationships and foster understanding across various ideological, institutional, and geographical boundaries. Such networks can lead to the emergence of new professional domains, novel schools of thought, and even entirely new organizations. A prime example is the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network, which originated from a diverse group of individuals united in their desire to enhance community resilience against wildfires. They pooled their varying experiences and insights to develop innovative approaches, acknowledging that wildfire management demands multifaceted strategies.
The wisdom of Heraclitus resonates, reminding us that “the only constant in life is change.” Similarly, Martin Luther King Jr. noted that “change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.” Human communities have developed evolutionary tendencies towards denying change, evident in our collective failure to recognize and respond to the urgent realities of climate change. Often, we overlook the incremental signs of transformation until we find ourselves confronted with an entirely new reality.
Nature provides us with an illuminating metaphor through rhizomes, which illustrate why change can sometimes catch us off guard and how we might guide desired changes in the future. Rhizomes, which include invasive plants like Japanese knotweed as well as others like wild iris, exemplify a decentralized growth pattern — they thrive underground, often unnoticed, before dramatically surfacing with renewed vitality.
While the majority of a rhizome’s activity occurs hidden from sight, it continuously gathers energy and expands its network, ultimately breaking through constraints to reveal its existence. This concept has been utilized by philosophers like Deleuze and Guattari to understand the non-linear, varied, and underground dynamics of social change.
The rhizome illustrates that we cannot merely restore hierarchical frameworks to induce change. Instead, we must look inward and underground, forming our own learning networks, forging new connections, and overcoming barriers that limit our growth potential. Engaging in civic life, embracing new relationships, and learning from individuals across the social and political spectrum can redefine our understanding of possible futures and empower us collectively.
Transitioning between diverse perspectives can be daunting. Recent gatherings across the country revealed the tension surrounding conversations about differing viewpoints. While it is tempting to retreat to familiar, homogenous settings that reinforce our biases, adopting a rhizomatic perspective encourages us to seek out challenging conversations. We can find solace in knowing that meaningful change occurs through dynamic, subterranean interactions. To be part of this transformation, we must be willing to forge uncomfortable connections that deepen our collective learning.
Embrace the challenge of reaching out to others who expand your understanding and confront your assumptions. By fostering new friendships and creating opportunities for shared learning, you may very well ignite a new movement for social change.
In summary, the path to effective societal transformation lies in adaptability, collaboration, and willingness to engage beyond our comfort zones. By valuing diverse perspectives and breaking down barriers, we can collectively navigate change and emerge stronger. This hopeful approach to embracing change not only enhances our understanding but can lead to impactful societal advancements.