Towards Co-evolution of sciences No shortcut in integrating local and global knowledge

1. Towards Co-evolution of sciencesNo shortcut in integrating local and global knowledge Overview • Origin: Compas • Knowledge in intercultural perspective • Definitions • Sources and focus • Indigenous perspective • Intercultural perspective • Typology of relations between forms of knowledge • Endogenous development • Challenges: Strategy for co-evolution of sciences and cultures

2. Origin • Food production: achievements and limitations • HEIA….LEISA • PTD • Focus on Indigenous Knowledge • Beyond technology: cosmovision/culture Three dimensions: • Natural • Human • Spiritual

3. Approach • Action research in different ecological, economic and cultural environments: • 25 partners in 14 countries in 4 continents • Supporting local initiatives for endogenous development • Intercultural dialogues: • Compas magazine • Workshops • Scientific support and co-evolution of cultures and sciences: University consortium (9 countries)

4. Compas products • Two books:

5. Compas products • Website: www.compas-network.org • Six Compas Magazines • 4000 subscribers English • 2000 subscribers Spanish • TMF funding till 2006 • University consortium in status nascendi

6. Compas position on co-evolution of sciences • Global and local knowledge can not simply be integrated by combining the best of both. • The interface needs assessment of: • Existing power relations • Epistemological differences (focus and sources) • SWOT of each of the traditions involved • Possibilities and results of initiatives to address SWOT And decision to collaborate, co-learn and co-evolve.

7. Knowledge in intercultural perspective Definitions • Information: data processed and given a meaning. • Knowledge: Assumptions, concepts, and information acquired and processed by people: Meaning given to phenomena and the basis for action. • Science: The complex of producing, storing, retrieving and utilization of knowledge within a theoretical and methodological framework accepted by a professional community. • Best approximation/subject to improvement • Socially constructed • Different sciences exist in different cultures and professional communities • Dominant science: Carthesian

8. Knowledge in intercultural perspective Focus, sources and objectives of Knowledge Focus: HOW WHY Cause/effect Meaning Source Ratio Intuition knowing from knowing outside from inside Objective Control Sense giving

9. Knowledge in intercultural perspective Rules of the game of inter-scientific dialogue: Issues to be addressed: • Risk of imposing rules by dominating knowledge • Bias on rationality or on intuition • Diversity in types of modernization • How to support diversity in modernization • When is intercultural exchange a threat and when an asset. • Mechanisms and strategies for co-evolution

10. Knowledge in intercultural perspective Indigenous perspective: Smith,(Maori): Formal science describe local notions of space, territory, time, numbers, sacred, rituals, initiation, visions, harmony and duality, seniority and morality in external language and concepts. Local management systems and solutions are not taken serious. Self-determination and revitalization requires: • Recovery of own ways of explaining, learning, teaching, experimenting • Healing and restoring possible deficiencies of local knowing • Mobilization of all available local resources for creating local livelihoods • Transformation aiming at structural improvement of local knowledge

11. Knowledge in intercultural perspective Multi-civilisational perspective (Huntington): Each civilization has its own identity, defined by: • language, • history, • belief, • religion, • customs, • institutions, • self identification • knowledge

12. Early civilizations, religions and knowledge systems • Civilizations • Mesopotamia 3500 AC • Egipto 3200 AC • Indo 2500 AC • China 1800 AC • Grecia 700 AC • Celtas 200 AC • Roma 0 • Germanos 500 BC • Mayas 800 DC • Árabes 800 DC • Zimbabwe 1200 DC • Reinos Africanos Occidentales 1300 DC • Incas 1400 DC Religions B Budismo C Cristianismo H Hinduísmo I Islam J Judaísmo S Shintoismo T Taoismo

13. Process of colonization and domination • Africa and Latin America: • recipient of western knowledge; hardly longer producer of own knowledge. Marginalisation. • Asia; India/China: • written traditions; more continuity: Parallel knowledge • Postcolonial period: • continuous dominant position of western/global knowledge • Differentiation of western knowledge: • Neopositivism, Postmodernism, Globalisation • Globalisation and localisation of knowledge • Penetration of global markets, knowledge and values • Renaissance of African, Asian and American knowledge

14. Civilizations ± 2000 Western Hindu Source: Huntington: Clash of civilizations

15. Contemporary sciences • Africa • Emphasis on WHY • Role of ancestors and elders • Role of spiritual leaders, sacrifices • Hierarchy in divine beings • Sacred character of nature • Cyclic notion of time • Magical powers (+) and (-) c.f. MILLAR India • Five senses and the mind • If mind is free of prejudices, it can complement the senses and understand reality from within • Very long time perspective • Meditative techniques c.f. BALU

16. Contemporary sciences Andes • Emphasis on WHY • Sacred time –space (pacha mama) • Spiral notion of time • Reciprocity • Living astrology • Fiestas c.f. DELGADO Europe • Enlightenment/Carthesian science: emphasis on HOW • Materialism • Post modernity: diversity, holism, self regulation and chaos c.f. RIST

17. Type 1. Clash or hostilities: Violent occupations, wars, resistance, fights 2. Going underground To avoid repression, hostilities or rejection, local knowledge continues in clandestinity 3. Parallel knowledge Co-existence of different knowledges without interaction Examples Fights between religions, war for independence Sjamanism, Maya priests Spirit medium in Africa Ayurvedic and bio-medical practices Conventional and bio-dynamic farming Typology of relations between knowledges

18. 4. Utilitarism and selective inclusion Dominant science validates local technologies and selectively adopts certain elements 5. Suppression and substitution Dominant system forces indigenous concepts to be substituted 6. Paternalism Traditional knowledge is bottleneck to modernization and must be updated by science from outside Local herbs for health treatments Arab mathematics Chinese gunpowder Missionary conversion of religions Privatization of land Introduction of European languages Republican system of governance democracy and laws Transfer of technology in health and agricultural development Typology of relations between knowledges

19. Syncretism Beliefs, knowledge and rituals are combined in such a way that both believe that their culture is dominant 8. Romanticism Local or global knowledge is considered as basically good and romanticized; it should remain as it is. Carthesian science and Catholicism and Maya c.q. Andean knowledge and beliefs integrated Going native; Rejection outside contributions Resistance to exchange Typology of relations between knowledges

20. 9. Co-evolution Different knowledges evolve simultaneously by revitalization of own and by interaction with other knowledge 10. Transcultural and transdisciplinary synergy Each knowledge transcedes own limitations and together the different knowledges work towards holistic science that goes beyond the actual disciplinary and paradigmatic limitations India: exchange and comparing health traditions; Co-existing farm style in Europe; Picads in Bolivia Empathic Learning and Action in Ghana. Concept of Gaia; Holistic medicine, Typology of relations between knowledges

21. Typology: Implications • Power differences explain domination • Existing knowledges are mutually influenced and interpenetrated • Typology has political and ethical dimensions: no value free relationship exists. • Inter-scientific dialogues makes clear starting position with power aspects and epistemological differences (why-how, rationality-intuition). • Publication only if it serves local interests, protect property rights: in local language, co-authored, not providing technical details

22. Typology: Implications • Dialogue implies horizontal relationship: • Willingness to listen • Openness to learning • Responsiveness to information, questions and suggestions • Courage to criticize when considered necessary • Endogenous development can indicate the processes or revitalization and conditions and mechanisms of co-evolution

23. Typology: Implications • Risks of intercultural exchange: • Extraction of local knowledge • Disturbing status quo • Domination by outsiders • Introduction of new lifestyle • Disrespect for culture and spirituality • Code of Conduct • Accept conditions for hospitality and initiation • Respect for diversity and local values • Be a learner • Support endogenous development

24. Endogenous development • Development based mainly, but not exclusively, on locally available resources. It has the openness to consider, modify and integrate traditional and outside knowledge. It has mechanisms for local learning and experimenting, building local economies and retention of benefits in the local area.

25. Supporting local initiatives for endogenous development: 10 entry points • Building on local needs and resources

26. Supporting local initiatives for endogenous development: 10 entry points • Improving local knowledge and practices

27. Supporting local initiatives for endogenous development: 10 entry points • Local control of development options

28. Supporting local initiatives for endogenous development: 10 entry points • Identification and use of development niches

29. Supporting local initiatives for endogenous development: 10 entry points • Selective use of external resources

30. Supporting local initiatives for endogenous development: 10 entry points • Retention of benefits in the local area

31. Supporting local initiatives for endogenous development: 10 entry points • Exchange and learning between cultures

32. Supporting local initiatives for endogenous development: 10 entry points • Training and capacity building

33. Supporting local initiatives for endogenous development: 10 entry points • Networking and strategic partnership

34. Supporting local initiatives for endogenous development: 10 entry points • Understanding the systems of knowing and learning

36. Towards a strategy for co-evolution of knowledges 1. Re-building relationships between different actors: Local people, leaders, NGO’s, governmental and religious agencies, universities, donors and international agencies. Horizontal- supportive 2. Learning about cosmovision and local knowledge Material, Social and Spiritual knowledge 3. Learn from community coping with dominant knowledge Type of relationship, different strategies used to survive, change, co-evolve. Differentiated for social categories

37. Towards a strategy for co-evolution of knowledges 4. Community dialogue and decision about possible interaction with other knowledge Assess potentials and risks of exchange, take decisions on how to go about contacts. 5. Self defining strong and weak points of local knowledge, and how to deal with it. How and Why, ratio and intuition, dynamics in learning, teaching and innovation 6. Self defining strong and weak points of dominant knowledge, and how to deal with it. How and Why, ratio and intuition, dynamics in learning, teaching and innovation

38. Towards a strategy for co-evolution of knowledges 7. Exchange of experience and CO-EVOLUTION • exchange epistemologies and paradigms • exchange self-assessment of knowledge systems • look for synergy and complementarity • question and challenge each other • balance power and financial differences • establish mechanisms for exchange and mutual learning; joint prioritizing planning and implementing research, modification of research methods, exchange in workshops and publications,

39. University Consortium • Supporting field work • Research on E.D. • Developing a curriculum for university students on endogenous development • Regional exchange • Theory building based on own concepts, logic, values • Co-evolution of sciences