Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds

The Introduction to Emergent Strategy establishes several of the book’s overarching themes. These include drawing inspiration from and using The Natural World as a Model for Social Change, the need for a collaborative and interconnected approach to social justice work as an alternative to top-down leadership, and identifying how Speculative Fiction and the Power of Imagination can inspire innovation in social justice work.

brown begins by grounding the core principles of emergence in the natural world. This idea draws from the observation of how nature operates, where diverse, smaller elements interact and adapt to create complex and resilient ecosystems. By applying a similar logic to human relationships and how social movements operate, individuals can effect change through small, everyday interactions and ultimately achieve larger transformative social shifts. The focus on nature also emphasizes the way humans are part of the natural world, not separate from it. brown emphasizes the concept of interconnectedness, highlighting how individual and collective well-being is linked. In nature, species survive and thrive by being in communities with each other. Likewise, humans must recognize the importance of community and collaboration to create a thriving society. brown discusses the collaborative, adaptive, and resilient qualities found in small organisms such as mushrooms, dandelions, and bacteria. Often overlooked or considered insignificant, they demonstrate remarkable adaptability and endurance in challenging environments.

These traits come together to form an alternative to traditional approaches to leadership in social justice movements. By studying natural systems and observing their ability to thrive amidst change, brown suggests that social movement leaders can adopt similar qualities to effectively navigate complex and evolving contexts. The author explains that humans can develop and tap into these qualities by fostering deeper relationships. A collaborative mindset rejects oppressive, hierarchical differences while empowering community members to identify in which capacity they can lead and also be led. A key factor in ensuring a truly collaborative environment is strong relationship-building, since strong social ties heavily influence the effectiveness of collective actions: “[T]he strength of our movement is in the strength of our relationships” (10). Community organizing should, therefore, prioritize a qualitative approach instead of a quantitative one since a competitive mindset can jeopardize the impact of social justice work.

brown also discusses how speculative fiction informed the emergent strategy framework, emphasizing the importance of hope and optimism in organizing: One has to not only resist existing oppression but imagine a better world. The broader literary genre of speculative fiction encompasses various other genres, such as science fiction and visionary fiction, and is characterized by the exploration of alternative realities that deviate from the present reality’s constraints. Speculative fiction can incorporate both real and fantastical elements, regardless of their grounding in science or the supernatural, as long as they are imaginative stories. Octavia Butler’s work is often considered an example of both speculative fiction and its subgenre visionary fiction since it emphasizes mind, body, and spirit in its speculations and explores themes such as spirituality, human consciousness, and transformative experiences. Butler’s books present possibilities of reimagining the current reality and conjuring up an improved future. brown identifies in her work a chance to envision a more egalitarian society and leaders that embody the elements needed for the shift toward it.

Butler’s centering of gender and the African American experience sparked brown’s interest in understanding how imagination and social justice can intersect. In Butler’s stories, brown immerses herself in fictional worlds where her traditionally overlooked voice and ideas are finally embraced and celebrated. This is one of the reasons why Butler is often credited as being one of the foundational authors of Afrofuturism, a cultural, artistic, and literary movement that reimagines the potential for liberation for people of the African diaspora. Social justice movements are rooted in a similar duality of restlessness and hope that Butler, Afrofuturists, and speculative writers have, of which imagination is also an integral part. This is reflected in the emergent strategy framework: “Emergent strategies let us practice, in every possible way, the world we want to see” (23). By empowering individuals to actualize the world they aspire to live in, brown underscores the significance of imagination in social justice movements.

brown’s poem, “a complex movement,” demonstrates an interlacing of the main themes presented in the Introduction, creating a link between nonfiction and more artistic writing. This blending of form is another example of how creativity and imagination can be tools for activism. The poem opens with the phrase “over and over again” (brown, adrienne maree. “a complex movement.” adrienncemareebrown.net, Line 1), which echoes the cyclical nature of the natural world. The added imagery of a bud symbolizes the potential for change and growth that awaits. It suggests that the peace and joy humans seek are not external entities to be pursued but rather inherent, natural qualities to which they must return. Like the soon-to-be flower, change is ready to bloom if enough attention is paid to it. The poem’s reference to “learning from within” emphasizes personal growth, reflection, and the power of imagination (24). It suggests that true transformation requires a deeper understanding, going beyond surface-level critique to a more profound connection with one’s self and the world. The poem speaks of creating a never-ending cycle of love and nurturing. This resonates with the idea of building harmonious relationships and envisioning a more egalitarian society, where love and compassion are fundamental drivers of social change. Overall, “a complex movement” aligns with the core themes presented by brown, emphasizing interconnectedness, collaboration, resilience, and the transformative power of imagination. The poem encapsulates the essence of emergent strategy and serves as a lyrical reminder of the principles and goals presented in the Introduction.

Chapter 1 lists brown’s emergent strategy principles alongside footnotes to situate them in relation to their influences. Rather than a rigid map to follow, the principles are presented as a fruitful ground to which people engaged with social justice work can look for inspiration. It is a catalog of key ideas, “a snapshot of a theory” that readers can use to reflect on their role as agents of change (44).

The first, fourth, sixth, and seventh principles focus on two qualities of strong relationships: collaboration and trust. The first principle explains that the health of the individual is intimately tied to the health of the collective. One mirrors the other. This emphasizes the significance of small interactions in creating larger, transformative change and the key role of collaboration in this process. In nature, the actions of each individual contribute to the overall well-being of an ecosystem, and brown encourages a similar approach in social justice work. The fourth principle highlights the unique perspectives and experiences that individuals bring to collective work. As dialogue is a key component to fostering deeper relationships, social movement leaders are encouraged to create the space for these conversations to occur and, ultimately, lead to collective actions. The sixth and seventh principles stress the importance of trust in collective decision-making and shared leadership. They emphasize the importance of strong connections and networks within social justice work and the need to prioritize quality relationships over sheer numbers, or critical mass.

The sixth principle is a positive take on a famous quote by Taoist philosopher Lao Tzu (“If you do not trust the people, they will become untrustworthy” [213]) and the seventh principle is based on the concept of “speed of trust” by author Stephen Covey—all work is created through collaboration, and trust is integral to successful collaboration. Calling on these two authoritative voices—one ancient philosopher and a contemporary businessperson and educator—helps establish ethos, putting brown’s work in the same realm as these other thinkers. In referencing two very different thinkers, brown also asserts that her work is broadly applicable.

Change and responses to it are another common thread in these principles. The second and fifth principles deal with the need to nurture adaptability and resilience in the face of constant change. The second principle asserts that change is an inherent and unavoidable part of existence. Ecosystems evolve, species adapt, and new forms of life emerge. brown suggests that social movements can draw inspiration from this natural process to build a similar resilience, no matter what obstacles emerge. By embracing the idea that change is inevitable, social movements can, like water, adapt and transform. Just as nature constantly evolves to address new challenges, social movements can strive to be dynamic and responsive. The fifth principle states that positively reframing setbacks and challenges can also encourage resilience and promote growth. It emphasizes the continuous, ongoing nature of change, and how difficulties can be opportunities to learn and evolve, even in social justice work where the process of actualizing change can be arduous.

The third and eighth principles relate to the premise of quality over quantity. They encourage social movements to focus on meaningful and impactful work, prioritizing depth and intentionality rather than being constrained by a scarcity mindset, driven solely by the desire for numbers. The third principle challenges the notion that the success of social movements should be measured solely by the number of participants, resources amassed, or outcomes achieved. Instead, it invites a reevaluation of what truly matters and encourages a more discerning approach to decision-making and resource allocation. Above all, it emphasizes fostering deeper connections for better outcomes. The eighth principle suggests that instead of getting caught up in excessive preparation, over-planning, or obsessing over minute details, social movement leaders should prioritize being fully present and engaged in the moment. This principle recognizes that deep connections, genuine listening, and authentic engagement with others are essential for generating transformative change.

Finally, the ninth principle emphasizes individuals’ and social movements’ active role in shaping change through intentional focus. This principle encourages community leaders to be mindful of where they invest energy and resources, as what they choose to prioritize and nurture influences the overall trajectory of their collective efforts. In the Introduction, brown explores the power of imagination and the ability to envision alternative futures; the ninth principle aligns with those concepts by highlighting the role of attention in manifesting and actualizing change. Individuals engaged with social justice work can channel their energy toward building the world they envision by being deliberate in their choices.

Chapter 2 lists the qualities alluded to by the principles presented in Chapter 1. These overarching qualities, which brown calls “elements,” are the fundamental qualities that individuals and social movements can cultivate to improve their impact. For instance, adaptability, as discussed in Chapter 2, aligns with the principle of change as a constant from Chapter 1. This connection provides a clearer understanding of how people and organizations can embody the principles of emergent strategy. brown emphasizes the individual nature of each element while also affirming their interconnectedness. This understanding is crucial to fully grasp the holistic nature of emergent strategy; while each element has its own unique characteristics, they are not isolated entities. Instead, they are intricately linked and influence one another.

In Chapter 2, brown delves into the societal conditioning and socialization that inhibits the ability to fully embrace one’s emergent nature. She presents a comprehensive list of these ingrained patterns and beliefs that she refers to as “tricks.” These tricks, which include notions of individualism, competition, and hierarchical structures, impose limitations on the ability to embody emergent strategy. brown invites readers to critically examine how societal norms and systems shape thinking and behavior. Through introspection and self-awareness, individuals and social movements can actively challenge and dismantle oppressive patterns that prevent them from embracing the necessary principles and elements for effective social change.