The Theory of Being: Practices for Transforming Self and Communities Across Difference

The Theory of Being is a state-of-the-art, robust, and adaptable process for working across Difference and embarking on constructive dialogue around the issues that drive us apart. It offers personal, relational, and community practices to transform systems of structural inequity and includes cases and narratives to demonstrate how individuals, organizations, and communities can work together to evolve responsive, inclusive, and equitable practices.

Format: Hardback
Length: 247 pages
Publication date: 19 August 2022
Publisher: Stylus Publishing

This book presents a cutting-edge, robust, and adaptable process called the Theory of Being, which offers strategies for working across differences and embarking on constructive dialogue around the issues that divide us individually and collectively. Whether it's addressing racial, gender, and/or social class inequity, core beliefs, power dynamics, or other points of cultural conflict, this book provides a research-validated approach developed and refined over twenty years to engage in challenging dialogues. The Theory of Being encompasses personal, relational, and community practices that support individuals and communities in navigating the difficult dialogues required to transform systems of structural inequality. It describes and applies the concept of Being to help readers understand and apply principles and practices that foster openness to controversy through facilitating deep reflection and shifting the focus of conflict from individuals to centering the issue of contention as a Third Thing about which participants can safely express their experiences and emotions. Through cases and narratives, the editors and contributors demonstrate how individuals, organizations, and communities can work together to continuously evolve responsive, inclusive, and equitable practices that value social and cultural differences.

This book is particularly focused on strategies for the "how" we interact, emphasizing an orientation to process rather than prioritizing outcomes. A process-orientation can enhance the quality of interaction between individuals and increase the likelihood of navigating problems associated with controversial social difference in ways that lead to sustainable strategies to disrupt systems of oppression.

In conclusion, the Theory of Being offers a comprehensive and practical framework for working across differences and fostering constructive dialogue. By embracing a process-oriented approach, individuals, organizations, and communities can enhance their ability to engage in challenging dialogues, disrupt systems of oppression, and create a more inclusive and equitable world.

Weight: 485g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781642673647