Tools of Systemic Change for Sustainable Future: Mindfulness and Degrowth in Post COVID World

Abstract

To address the issues of sustainability conundrum there is need to develop actionable decision matrix that harmonizes the roles and responsibilities of three actors, viz., community, state, and market. The COVID pandemic made the world realize that purely technical-economic solution has limits to the problem faced by human beings. In this backdrop we attempt to scan the foundational systemic change that needs to be addressed in social institutions to redesign the organization structure and functioning. The primary objective of this paper is to explore the core systemic challenges that we are facing. This exploration involves deep engagement with key stakeholders in the field of development, industry, administration, funding agency, innovator, educators’ etcetera. The purpose of this step is to find workable links between community, state, and market. We have done (continuing) more than 1850 hours of dialogue (in person, online mode) and engagement with 125 personnel from ninety-five institutions across ten domains, based in nine countries. The dialogue led us to identify that to address the future challenges we must address the issue of ‘mindfulness’ and ‘degrowth’ at individual and collective conscious level respectively in our society to reboot the social institutions.

Keywords: Systemic Change, Mindfulness, Degrowth, Sustainable, Institution

JEL Classification: B000, P48, Z1