Together with Helena and Susanne, whom we met through a workshop hosted by Kathrin Franke (Gemeinwohlökonomie e.V.), we are supporting the growth of the System Delta regional chapter in Eastern Germany. By applying the principle of "leapfrogging," we build directly on the experiences of established movements rather than starting from scratch. When connected groups pool their knowledge and resources, systemic transformation gains real momentum.
The term Gemeinwohl-Ökonomie – Economy for the Common Good – is of course very strongly shaped, or has been so far, by Christian Felber, whom I’ve written about here many times before. Christian Felber is an Austrian author and publicist who started the Economy for the Common Good movement in 2010. And that’s why the term Economy for the Common Good is so strongly tied to his name.
And I think I’ve pointed out several times already that, sadly, Christian Felber too runs his organisation in a fairly hierarchical way – in the end, a fairly patriarchal one too. It’s difficult, for example, to work for his association as a lecturer, a speaker, a trainer, a multiplier, if you want to. And there’s the so-called AK, the Arbeitskreis Weiterbildung – the further-training working group, I think it’s called – and I was in touch with them. And after several follow-ups they wrote to me explaining what the procedure ultimately is for getting listed there and maybe even getting paid for it – because that matters a lot to me, just as it does to everyone else, especially when it comes to the Economy for the Common Good. But it’s very difficult: Christian Felber has built hurdles in here, artificial hurdles, so that he keeps control over his little empire. That means you have to get certified by his organisation, and that certification is only possible twice a year.
That’s why there are newer organisations that practise leapfrogging – which, if you want to explain it with the old GDR slogan (I don’t know which of you know it): “Overtaking without catching up”. That’s basically leapfrogging: you skip a few stages of development. And I see that in a new organisation I’ve got to know, called System Delta. Because at System Delta things happen faster, less bureaucratically, more dynamically, more people-centred. And I can imagine System Delta developing very positively within this ecosystem of the Economy for the Common Good.
I looked up Martin Oetting online: everything he publishes matches very closely what I feel too. Of course Martin Oetting is a scientist with a doctorate and naturally has more academic depth and a different reach than I do – so I don’t want to put myself on the same level as him in that respect – but our values match very closely. And when it comes to the patriarchy factor, too, I see very positive signs with Martin Oetting.
Whereas with Christian Felber – that immediately brings Dr. Meynhardt to mind again, Timo Meynhardt, a highly respected professor too, absolutely. Only when I think again about the fact that the two of them organised this marketing appearance for the city of Leipzig through the Berlin marketing agency – this marketing campaign called Gemeinwohlparlament Leipzig, the Leipzig Common Good Parliament – then I do ask myself again: are you serious, folks? You’re not doing the idea of the Economy for the Common Good any favours there. That’s why I see much more dynamism at System Delta – with their clear statements and slogans too.
What do you take away from this thought?
Thank you. Every answer fits – take it with you into your day. Would you like to share something yourself?
