Craig Perry is a Masters in Foresight student at the University of Houston who is also interested in Integral. In our conversations, he has brought up some interesting thoughts which are posted here:
“For example, the U.S. doctrinal “spectrum of conflict” as linear escalation from peace to war seems to me a “flatland” approach, addressing only the external behaviors and artifacts of warfare. Our adversaries often operate in a more nuanced, even sophisticated manner that factors in the internal dimensions of psychology and culture. An Integral approach would be particularly useful in what we used to call “military operations other than war” such as counterinsurgency (COIN) and counterterrorism (CT) operations. COIN is all about “winning hearts and minds” and building partner capacity to provide its own security – which has everything to do with the upper-left and lower-left quadrants. CT is typically more kinetic, but it also requires a sensitivity to local culture to ensure we don’t inadvertently inspire more recruitment and facilitation.
Spiral Dynamics plays a role as well, as security means different things to people at different levels of development – and a lack of security can drive which level of development predominates, as Maslow surely knew. I believe, for example, that “realist” theories of international relations best explain how states at the “blue/orange” levels tend to interact, but once states begin to exhibit “green” tendencies, more cooperative options like liberal intergovernmentalism become viable. If this is true, then an eventual end to war becomes a plausible alternative future.”
It is my intention to post on this site as many perspectives on Integral and Integral Futures as I can find. So if you would like to contribute or know someone who would, please contact me at integralfutures@aol.com.
