Tellus Institute - For a Great Transition

Politics has been understood since antiquity as the art of resolving tensions between the “I” and the “we” to achieve collectively desirable ends. A political strategy is deemed successful when the interests and actions of multiple individuals and stakeholder groups are aligned in a practical way towards common objectives. The study of politics relates, therefore, to multiple issues, including: a definition of the political community; the types of interests and power relations that exist within it; the articulation of the collective interest and its associated policies; and the opportunities and means for resolving conflicts and reaching group aims in a legitimate and effective manner.

As a long-term collective goal, global sustainability is especially difficult in political terms, because it often lacks tangible and discernable benefits for individual stakeholders. In the context of a Great Transition, the challenge is to create a global political community with a common “we” identity and a clearly articulated collective interest in the environment, equity, and human development. This will require building inter-personal trust at very large scales and institutional arrangements that can sustain democratic politics under the principle of subsidiarity at different scales.

The Global Politics and Institutions Program investigates these issues through analysis and debate among theorists, activists and the general public. The main activities are:

  • Visioning – fashioning alternative political processes and institutions.
  • Research – characterizing desirable institutional arrangements at multiple scales that are consistent with the principle of subsidiarity.
  • Forum – facilitating an international discussion on global politics as a research group within the Great Transition Initiative.

*NEW*Global Politics and Institutions*New*
This paper develops principles and visions for a new globalism. It is published as part of the GTI Paper Series, Frontiers of a Great Transition.

Program leader: Dr. Chella Rajan
Contact: crajan@tellus.org