A CHALLENGE TO THE WST DISCUSSION GROUP TO ENGAGE IN MORE UNIFIED ANALYSIS AND INTELLECTUAL RIGOR SO THAT ACTUAL CONTRIBUTIONS CAN BE MADE GOING FORWARD.
OVER THE PAST MONTHS I HAVE UNDERTAKEN AN EXPERIMENT TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER THIS DISCUSSION GROUP IS LIVING UP TO ITS POTENTIAL FOR MAKE LEGITIMATE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EXPANDING THE KNOWLEDGE BASE FOR WST OR HELPING TO CHANGE THE THINKING/BEHAVIOR OF THE POWERS THAT BE.
THE KEY CONCLUSION IS ONE OF GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT.
MOSTLY THERE HAS BE A LOT OF PETTY BICKERING OVER OLD IDEAS AND QUITE A LOT OF PERSONAL AGENDA PROMOTION RELATED TO FINISHING ONE’S Ph.D. OR PROMOTING PET PROJECTS LIKE BOOK PUBLICATIONS OR OTHER CULT-OF-PERSONALITY AND SINGLE ISSUE POLITICAL AXE GRINDING.
HOW SAD FOR ALL OF US THAT WE SQUANDER THE IMMENSELY USEFUL TOOL OF A GLOBAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM (THE INTERNET) ON SUCH MINOR PURSUITS.
AS MY RURAL FRIENDS IN VERMONT WOULD SAY, " WE GOT MUCH BIGGER FISH TO FRY."
(IMHO) THE PRINCIPLE FAILING OF THE WST DISCUSSION GROUP SEEMS TO BE THE INABILITY TO APPLY AN INTEGRATED ANALYSIS TO THE "WHOLE SYSTEM" OF THE GLOBAL CONDITION (YES, THE OLD "FEELING THE TOE OF THE ELEPHANT" PROBLEM).
IN PARTICULAR THERE IS AN ABSENCE OF COHERENT LINKING TRADITIONAL POLYSCI TO THESE ISSUES:
-SOCIAL-BIOLOGY
-ECOLOGICAL
-PSYCHO-BIOLOGICAL
-GEOPOLITICAL-ECONOMICS
-TECHNO-SOCIOLOGICAL
THIS MISSING INFORMATION/ANALYSIS IS PRINCIPALLY EXPRESSED IN THE DISCRETE RAMBLINGS OF VARIOUS CONTRIBUTORS; WHEREIN NOTHING IS EVER LINKED TO ANYTHING ELSE. AND THIS PRECIPITATES SQUABBLES OVER THE WORDING OF MESSAGES AND WHO SAID WHAT AT WHAT TIME. THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE REALLY ARE NOT DOING MUCH IN THE WAY OF WST ANALYSIS.
HOW SAD FOR ALL OF US.
I COME FROM A TRADITION THAT HOLDS THAT ONE SHOULD ONLY CRITICIZE IF ONE HAS A SOLUTION TO OFFER.
I OFFER THE FOLLOWING SOLUTION:
WE SHOULD AGREE THAT OUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY AS SCHOLARS AND INTELLECTUALS IS TO CONVERT KNOWLEDGE INTO USEFUL ACTION; OTHERWISE WE ARE ALL DOOMED TO OBSCURITY TO SAY THE LEAST AND CONTINUING PARTICIPATION AS USEFUL IDIOTS FOR THE POWER-ELITE TO SAY THE WORST.
TO REMEDY THIS:
WST SHOULD REGULARLY DEBATE AND FORM UNIFIED POSITIONS ON CRITICAL WST MATTERS. THESE SHOULD BE ACTIVELY INFLICTED ON THE POWERS-THAT-BE AND CIRCULATED WITH "FELLOW TRAVELERS."
THESE SUBMITTALS SHOULD BE WIDELY PROMOTED AND TRACKED TO ENSURE PROPER ABSORPTION IN THE PUBLIC POLICY PROCESS. THIS SHOULD INCLUDE MASS MEDIA CAMPAIGNS THAT DOCUMENT AND THUS HOLD THE POWERS-THAT-BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR RESPONSES AND SUBSEQUENT ACTIONS.
WE SHOULD JOIN FORCES WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO CROSS SUPPORT SIMILAR EFFORTS. THERE ARE AMAZING EFFORTS AND RESOURCES OUT THERE AND THE TIME HAS COME FOR WST FOLKS TO ENGAGE IN REAL AND HARD WORK OF MAKING THE POWER-ELITE CHANGE.
MANY WILL FIND MY SUGGESTIONS NAÏVE OR IMPRACTICAL. BUT I REMIND EACH OF YOU THAT ALL SOCIAL CHANGE IS CRITICIZED FOR THIS EARLY ON AND THE HISTORICAL RECORD PROVES THAT IT JUST AIN’T SO.
I AWAIT YOUR REPLIES.
RANDALL