A construction industry professional with over four decades of experience, Covey Cowan serves as a construction supervisor for Upscale Construction, Inc. in San Francisco, California. Having worked with people from many different ethnic backgrounds and travelled throughout the world, Cowan has developed a strong interest in discovering the unique gifts that different cultures have to offer the larger world today. ‘History says Ancient Greece invented democracy. But the Greeks took their inspiration from the other side of the Mediterranean in Egypt. "African democracy," which is practiced to this day in villages and towns across the continent—where 70 percent of Africans live—is very different from "Western democracy." It is based on the humanist philosophy called Ubuntu, originating in southern Africa, which teaches, "I am because you are." African democracy is focused on including everyone, whereas Western democracy, with its basis in majority rule, divides people and nations.
Traditional African democracy doesn't involve organized opposition. Power is arranged like a pyramid. At the top is the king who exercises supreme authority, assisted by his council of elders and sub-chiefs. But the king or chief has no power except that which is given to him by the people. He is usually enthroned for life, but the actual duration of his reign depends on how well or poorly he performs. If he is a good king, he stays. If he is a bad king who oppresses the people, or acts against their interests and traditions, he is overthrown by the people, using the constitutional means established for the purpose. African democracy has a lot to teach the world about decision-making. The chief or king in consultation with the council of elders makes minor day-to-day decisions. But major decisions affecting the community are made by the people—all the people. The job of the king or chief is really to implement the will of the people. In the African system, for example, if villagers want to build a school, the chief calls the whole community together under the trees of the village square. The gathering of the villagers acts like a city council or parliament. Wide and passionate discussions are held that day on the subject of the new school. Everybody is free to voice an idea. There is no organized opposition, but opposing views are strongly and freely expressed. The chief or king is the last to speak, but that doesn't mean he has "the last word," as would be the case in Western culture. At the end of the day, a consensus is almost always reached. And—most important—the new initiative enjoys broad support, since even opponents feel heard and respected. This kind of democracy is not a struggle for power, but an organizing structure.’ To read more click, ‘At the end of the day, a consensus is almost always reached.’ Covey Cowan, San Francisco, California Comments are closed.
|
AuthorAn avid traveler, Covey Cowan counts trips to Nepal and India as some of his most memorable. He has helped build a youth hostel for the Hidden Villa Foundation, raised funds for a school library in a Huichol village in central Mexico, and volunteered his time at The Center for Attitudinal Healing. Archives
August 2016
Categories |