Types of demands and motifs for knowledge, ideas etc.

1. Egyptian – German Think Tanks Conference: Towards an Innovative Approach to Think Tanks Management(IDSC & KAF) Effective Use of Knowledge and Issue Networks to Facilitate the Creation, Dissemination and Utilization of Policy Relevant Information and Ideas Dr. Edgar Göll(Berlin & Cairo) Cairo, July 1, 2008

2. Types of demands and motifs for knowledge, ideas etc. • Symbolic politics (for image reasons) • Incremental activities (minor steps) • Major reforms (i.e. social welfare, energy) • System transformation – overcome today‘s non-sustainable development with a holistic approach (climate change, desertification, overuse of resources, overpopulation, unlimited growth)

3. Old civilizations like the great Pharaonic ones used their resources quite effective and careful. River Nile for thousands of years was treated like a complex ecological system, incl. cultural aspects. Eight factors have historically contributed to the collapse of past societies: Deforestation and habitat destruction, soil problems, water management problems, over-hunting, over-fishing, effects of introduced species on native species, human population growth, increased per-capita impact of people

4. „In order to reach its living standard, Great Britain used up half of the resources of the planet; how many planets will a land like India need?“(Mahatma Ghandi)

5. Basic attitudes towards the Future • PASSIVE: „Ostrich“ accepting change as it comes • REACTIVE: „Firefighter“ waiting for the alarm to ring • PREACTIVE: „Insurance agent“ preparing for foreseeable changes • PROACTIVE: „Conspirator“ (agent provocateur) who pushes for desirable changes • A combination of 2 to 4 (Godet 2001:18)

6. Two sides: demand & supply • Understanding of the systems and process logic of the other side • Problem of the mono-disciplinary education system in Germany • Political solutions do not only need competences in the issues (policies) but have also to consider the specific challenges for the administrative institutions (politics and polities) • Political advise has to include suggestions for process management, dissemination, communication

7. “Only a crisis – actual or perceived – produces real change. When that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around. That, I believe, is our basic function: to develop alternatives to existing policies, to keep them alive and available until the politically impossible becomes politically inevitable.” (Milton Friedman, 1962)

8. Variables in the process • Relationship between decision maker and thinktanker (experience, asymmetry, embeddedness, freedom etc.) • Mutual trust, shared role definitions, respect and expectations • Various types of (potential) power, authority and contacts • Definition of the challenge, task and problem • Reduction of complexity, plausibility, explanatory skills • Spectrum of facts, views, interests (indirect or directly) represented

9. „We cannot solve the problems with the very patterns of thinking, which caused them.“ Albert Einstein

10. EXAMPLE 1: Recommendations for Sustainability Process Berlin 1. Construction of a Local Agenda 21 for Berlin 2.Mobilisation event ”Agenda 21 Berlin” 3. Establishing an Agenda-Office 4. LA21-Task Forces in Administration departments 5. Workshop series ”LA 21 in our administration” 6. Environmental Management Systems for Administrations 7.Evaluation of the LA-21-Coordinators 8. Agenda 21 Board 9. Future Conference 10. Scenarios ”Berlin 2020”

11. EXAMPLE 2: Recommendations for Sustainability in Parliament • Study for the German Parliament about experience in 7 other European countries with new innovative institutions for a Sustainable Development • Direct use of the results: establishing a Council on SD in the German Parliament

12. EXAMPLE 3: Recommendations for Automation Technologies • Studies for the biggest Electronics Business Association (ZVEI) about future challenges with regards to infrastructure needs in the fields of water, energy, automobiles, etc. • With a series of special workshops possible future demands were defined and their likelihood assessed – by providers and clients (moderation of demand and supply)

13. More than 600 years ago the great Arab social historian Ibn Khaldun defined „politics“ in his famous „Al-Muqaddima“ in the following way: „It encompasses the management of the home and the community according to morale and wisdom, in order to induce the people to a behavior which guarantees the protection and preservation of the species.“

14. Qualities for Information and Ideas • Responsibility for behaviour (and its effects) • Long-term thinking and behaviour • Global thinking und local / global behaviour • Regionalisation / decentralisation (responsibilities and resources) • Holistic / networked / ecological thinking (beyond departments and disciplines, multi- and inter-disciplinary) • Participation / democracy (adequate procedures) • Ability to deal with plurality / complexity • Sensitivity and empathy (civilisation process, solidarity, one world, multikulti, Close- and Far-Ethics)

15. Perspectives • Showing effects of decisions – scenario “business as usual” (enhance self reflectivity) - responsibility • Explaining exeriences of other institutions/countries • Proposing alternative options (based on good practice cases) and their prerequisites and costs • Sustainable Development represents the most important, innovative, advanced and authoritative concept for solving basic problems and saving mankind. It is an ambitious strategy for survival and well-being. • Support decision makers and citizens for a more systematic and reflexive action in their everyday behaviour on all levels (improve communication).