Summary of Deep Democracy & DDI
"Deep Democracy", a concept developed by Arnold Mindell in 1988, is a key concept in a new paradigm called Process Work. Deep Democracy refers to reformulation of the QM relationship between observer, observed event and method of observation by linking the "observer" from Quantum Mechanics to the process or awareness in psychology. Mindell introduces three awareness levels, which he calls consensus reality level, dreamland level, and essence level. By defining our experience of reality as a multi-dimensional process, in which all dimensions over time need to be included, he created a new paradigm that can be applied in all areas of life. The Deep Democracy Institute focuses on bringing forward multi-dimensional leadership, change management, coaching and large group facilitation trainings. We also use a multi-dimensional approach for our Deep Democracy Organizational Design modules, Multi-dimensional Vision and Strategy Development, etc.
In the 20 years since its formulation, Deep Democracy has crossed over and is being applied by many other groups and individuals, in addition to the professional Process Work community. Among them are well known politicians like Ralph Nader and Hillary Clinton. Many of these groups focus on one aspect of Deep Democracy, for example the idea that the "ruling" majority needs more relationship to the "ruled" minority, etc.
In the field of these groups, the Deep Democracy Institute International, headquartered in Portland, prides itself on being the one that is closest to the complete, original concepts, applying them in areas of collective and individual transformation. We belong to IAPOP the worldwide community of Deep Democracy practitioners, who like us are interested in researching, studying and applying these original concepts, and have undergone a rigorous IAPOP affiliated training.
We very much appreciate the various spinoffs, and look forward to connecting and working with more of them.
For more information on the concepts and networks, please read the full article below.
Deep Democracy and the Deep Democracy Institute International, Portland, OR, USA
What is Deep Democracy?
Deep Democracy is a key concept of Process Work, a paradigm that was developed by Dr. Arnold Mindell (a physicist from MIT and Jungian depth psychologist during the 1970s at the Jung Institute in Switzerland).
Process Work integrates concepts from quantum physics, psychology, anthropology, and spirituality into a new paradigm and methodology that has many applications. Mindell defines process as the constant flow of information, manifesting in events that are connected by an underlying organizing principle reflecting many universal laws. Process Work is a widespread approach with applications in collective transformation (change management), individual transformation (psychotherapy), medicine, physics, law, politics, leadership development, and art.
Mindell coined the term Deep Democracy in 1988 to describe the importance of developing awareness of and appreciation for all levels of experience. Deep Democracy further formulates quantum mechanics in terms of the relationship between the observer, the event, and the method of observation. It is a radical new way to think about reality, and shines a new light on the relative value of scientific and philosophical approaches that try to explain reality by focusing on single-dimensional aspects, but fall short of addressing the phenomena of all dimensions.
Mindell formulates the process of observation on three separate awareness levels: the measurable, objective, and readily expressible aspects of our experience; the non-measurable, subjective, and expressible aspects; and the deepest, inexpressible ones. Deep Democracy recognizes the equal importance of consensus reality issues and concerns (measurable objective descriptions of problems and people), dreamland figures (roles, ghosts, directions), and essence experiences (common ground) that connect everyone. It shows how we can experience the universe more fully by valuing equally all of the various aspects of our awareness.
For example, in the area of collective transformation and organizational change, Deep Democracy includes the idea that awareness of all these levels can bring valuable information to groups and leaders, by helping them to discover "The Process", the multi-dimensional direction that is hidden from the linear everyday state of mind. "The Process" is the principle that organizes the dynamic flow of voices and roles - including our collective experiences of altered states, subtle feelings, and behavioral and somatic tendencies. Awareness of the background process allows us to see the whole picture and brings forward a new understanding of existing conflict and problems, including business issues, and allows new organic and spontaneous solutions to organizational or community problems. Focusing on immediate goals is important, but including information available at the deeper levels of our awareness brings the most stability to the system, and often creates spontaneous and surprising results.
Impact of Deep Democracy
Deep Democracy has had an enormous impact in many areas over the last twenty years. The concept of Deep Democracy is now being used by many scientists, social activists, politicians, transpersonal psychologists, and organizational development communities. Many individuals, groups, and political leaders have studied with us and are applying these concepts within their own fields. Several politicians have also started to use the concept, including the US consumer rights czar Ralph Nader, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Several other groups have intuitively isolated one single-dimension of the broad multi-dimensional theory and application of Deep Democracy, such as the realization that majorities cannot sustainably rule over minorities, but need to build dialogue with them, or that democracy must also include a feeling level to be sustainable. We welcome this development and appreciate the power of the paradigm: even the application of one single aspect of the original theory can assist to discover how process organizes life, and how the flow of process has a self-organizing direction of its own, with its own innate wisdom.
We at the Deep Democracy Institute value the diverse implementations that have taken place, and support groups to further develop those aspects of the original theory that are important to them. We believe that Deep Democracy is such a rich paradigm with so many applications that over time, we will begin to see additional groups teach and further develop Deep Democracy in their own unique ways. We also welcome those groups that isolate partial or single aspects of the work and specialize in them. We invite all of these groups to network with us, and we feel supportive of their work. On the other hand, we ourselves are proud that together with the founders and our colleagues, we are researching and working closely at the cutting edge of development with the original body of theory, and the full application of Deep Democracy in all areas of life.
The Deep Democracy Institute: Who Are We?
Founded in 2006 as a think tank and educational institute that researches and teaches Deep Democracy worldwide, DDI’s first vision was to connect to global communities that historically have less access to cutting edge theories and training in the areas of collective and individual transformation. Growing out of the Process Work learning community in Portland Oregon, the Deep Democracy Institute has developed an international training program with many specializations in the USA and Europe as well as in the Ukraine, Palestine, Russia, and East Africa (based in Nairobi). We are currently developing trainings in Brazil, Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan), and Vietnam.One of the goals of the Deep Democracy Institute is to further education, research, and application of the original concepts with all of their multi-dimensional richness, robust methodology, and breadth of application. We feel that DDI is the institute that is closest to the original concepts, and teaches the broadest methodology. Our special focus is the wide area of leadership, organizational change, professional development and its relationship to individual personal growth.
DDI International and Process Work Community
Each of the Deep Democracy Institute faculty members has studied for decades directly with the Mindells, is a Certified Process Work Diplomate, and holds a university doctorate in a related field. The Process Work Diploma is awarded after a minimum of 4 years of rigorous training that includes years of personal coaching, and many live supervision sessions with individuals and groups.
Process Work Diplomates further develop Deep Democracy and its practice by participating in the professional body (International Association of Process Work - IAPOP) that debates, innovates, and learns together. All of our faculty members also teach within their own local and national IAPOP affiliated programs. We, the Deep Democracy Institute International, based in Portland, work closely with our sister organization, the Process Work Institute Portland, that runs excellent Process Work and Worldwork trainings including a Masters of Art in Process Work, and a Masters of Art in Conflict Facilitation and Organizational Change - and the many International Process Work Training Programs. All of us are also members of the Global Process Work Institute, which has for decades been organizing the Worldwork Seminars, large scale open forum style group seminars, and are part of the Worldwork facilitation faculty.
Max Schupbach, President and co-founder of the Deep Democracy Institute, is also, together with Arnold and Amy Mindell, a co-founder of the original Process Work community and trainings dating back to the paradigm’s origin in Zurich, Switzerland in the late 1970s. Schupbach is also a co-founder of the International Association of Process Oriented Psychology (IAPOP) the professional body of certified process work Diplomates, Worldwork facilitators, and graduates of Masters in Process Work and Masters in Conflict Facilitation training programs. Max is also a co-founder of the Global Process Work Institute.
