In this new post, I write about a meeting with one of my first mentors, whose study of authoritarianism awakened my interest in the subtle interplay between personality and social system.  With a nod to Mel Brooks, a salute to Daniel Goleman, and a bow to Maya Angelou, I explore a new generation of thinking about the role authoritarianism plays in our current social and political climate. Read my latest Huffington Post article. And please LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE, and DISCUSS wi

One of the core practices of collective wisdom is seeing whole systems . This requires us to step out of our particular bubble and ask essential questions, to diagnose critical relationships within a system, and to work in subtle realms, including what is not immediately apparent. Most significantly, seeing whole systems asks us to embrace both the light and shadow of human interactions, having faith that greater coherence and healthy functioning communities can be a result.

For the past weeks, I've been writing with a growing sense of urgency on the rising levels of fear and divisiveness evidenced in our political process here in the United States and around the world.  It occurred to me that I was witnessing a beauty pageant for demagogues.  What is a demagogue? This piece is a result of that reflection and concludes with the suggestion that we do not have to be passive participants.  The demagogue's cry for polarization must be our call to hon

Mixing in Leonard Cohen, Fortune Magazine, the Amida confession on Yom Kippur, Pope Francis, Volkswagen, and metaphors involving apples, I cooked up a hearty stew published on Huffington Post that I hope you will enjoy.

I just published an article on Huffington Post called The Politics of Intolerance . It's being appreciated by many and ... ruffling a few feathers. Have a look!

There are consequences to avoiding our fate, especially at the collective level and especially when we have been given stark warning.  In this case, the warning came from Franklin D. Roosevelt and it is as much about the interior domain of the collective as well how it manifests at the highest corporate and government levels.  Clothed by interest groups shaped by fear and greed, the ensuing garment hides self-interest while emphasizing the fine fit of those who have prospered

As if on cue, Republican Party nominee for Vice President and current congressman, Paul Ryan, was back in the news warning about "generations of men not even thinking about working or learning to value the culture of work, so there is a real culture problem here that has to be dealt with." Ryan then offers a bait and switch, condemning government programs that have historically addressed the consequences of poverty and offering up free market solutions, like limiting long-te

For all of you seeking an image, symbol, or story to help you understand the mysteries of confirmation bias, I offer this YouTube presentation of a woman advocating for deer crossing signs to be moved to places safer for deer to cross. (sent to me by Steve Maybury, further confirming my sense of his humor) "Underneath the many variations of collective folly lie at least two fundamental patterns that alert us to the potential of folly’s emergence. The first pattern is a moveme

<h3 style="text-align: center;"><em>Becoming Conscious of Capitalism: <br />The Death and Rebirth of Prosperity&#39;s Dream</em><br />a serial narrative by Alan Briskin<br /><a href="http://www.alanbriskin.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/6a0134809b7f05970c017617302d71970c.jpg" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Dragon-wtbk" border="0" src="http://www.alanbriskin.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/6a0134809b7f05970c017617302d71970c-800wi.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: aut

<p>This is not a post about Michele Bachmann so much as a reflection on the interior of a nation generating leaders who are reflections of our own most discomforting emotions – vengefulness, paranoia, rigidity, fear, and most disturbing, an addiction to the light.&#0160; And by addiction to the light I mean a wish to believe that there is one path to the divine and that path must be obeyed without reservation.&#0160; Ms. Bachmann calls this path Jesus or Christian but I stron

<p>In the Jewish tradition, there is a song beloved on Passover.&#0160; It’s called Dayenu (pronounced DI A NU) and its meaning is that even in the most difficult of times, it is critical that we appreciate what we have – that what has been done for us is sufficient.&#0160; Loosely translated, dayenu means “it would have been enough.”&#0160; It is a song sung to God and I remember this song more than others because on Passover, as a child, I sung it with such exuberance, bang

<p style="text-align: center;"><a style="display: inline;" href="http://www.alanbriskin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/6a0134809b7f05970c0147e2c51277970b.jpg"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a0134809b7f05970c0147e2c51277970b" style="border: 3px solid #333333;" title="Aikido" src="http://www.alanbriskin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/6a0134809b7f05970c0147e2c51277970b-800wi.jpg" border="0" alt="Aikido" /></a> <br /> <em><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Aikido World Headqua

<p><a style="display: inline;" href="http://www.alanbriskin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/6a0134809b7f05970c0133f59587a8970b.jpg"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a0134809b7f05970c0133f59587a8970b" title="Africa" src="http://www.alanbriskin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/6a0134809b7f05970c0133f59587a8970b-800wi.jpg" border="0" alt="Africa" /></a> <br /><br />In the late 70’s, I learned about the research of Nevitt Sanford.&nbsp; He was my professor and founder of the g

Part One of the Tea Party series is already catalyzing response - witness this exchange begun on FaceBook by Michael Harkins with a reflection about the imagery that accompanies my post: Michael said: "Alan, you put into words many of my same thoughts. I must say I too enjoy the satire of Colbert, but also worry about the fragmentation of America. I can't help but wonder about the image you displayed with your thoughts. It appears to be ...a threshold guardian. These images

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