Chapter 8: From Viability Supporting Competitiveness to Sustainable Self-Governance and Collaboration, as the Basis for a Post-Capitalistic Society

Graeber and Wengrow (2021) begin with this quote in ‘The Dawn of Everything’, and it provides the context for this chapter. Undoubtedly, humanity is facing multiple crises, from the breakdown of our eco-systems and climate, to accelerating inequality and never-ending conflicts and wars. And we seem incapable of doing very much about it: we continue to move in the wrong direction. The Greek concept of Kairos – one of those occasional moments when the frames of reference undergo a shift – seems particularly pertinent: we need the Kairos moment to shift towards a new kind of (post-capitalist) society.

In this chapter, we argue that a major factor in the current crisis is our governance systems – taken to encapsulate the many ways we organise and govern ourselves in our businesses and institutions. We are of the opinion that new forms of governance are a pre-requisite for the transition to a world where everyone is provided with the basics for a fulfilling life, and our devastated eco-systems can be regenerated.