Resilient vs divisive power
Divide, divide again and conquer.
Sexual hierarchies, we found, are always at the service of a project of domination that can sustain itself only by dividing, on a continuously renewed basis, those it intends to rule.
- Silvia Federici, Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body and Primitive Accumulation.
As the US votes for the 47th president today, Seth Godin reflects on power:
There’s the James Bond villian (sic) sort of power, based on division, dominance and destruction. This is the short-term power of bullies, trauma and mobs.
And then there’s a more resilient form of power. This is power based on connection, discussion and metrics. A power based in reality over the long term.
Divisive power tears things down. Resilient power builds things up.
Resilient power creates the conditions for the community to produce value over time. Resilient power uses optimism and fairness to create value because participants can see ways they can participate and contribute.
Fear might be for sale, but that doesn’t mean we have to buy it.
Better is possible.
- Seth Godin Types of Power