Resilience Revisited 06: Roman Krznaric: Harnessing History to Shape Philanthropic Futures and Build Collective Resilience

Four times in five days the work of social philosopher Roman Krznaric has crossed my desk! Definitely a sign to pay attention. Most especially when it invokes questions about how we might better build the collective resilience of individuals, communities and societies. Thank you to Nate Hagens and Small Giants Academy for the fascinating podcasts.

In the week that was all about the Pact for the Future, his recent book History for Tomorrow is a compelling reminder to look to our past to inform our future decisions, particularly in the realm of philanthropy and social development.

The Power of Historical Insight in Shaping a Future

Central to Krznaric's insight is that our resilience - the ability to prevent, withstand, adapt, and recover thriving after adversity -- is co-created, shared and built through the collective wisdom, resources, knowledge, and action of people individually and collectively.

Krznaric, a Senior Research Fellow at Oxford University's Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, argues that while our current crises may seem unprecedented, valuable lessons in building collective resilience can be gleaned from past civilisations that faced existential challenges. His approach encourages us to:

1. Learn from historical governance during crises to enhance societal adaptability
2. Rediscover forgotten lessons of community and mutual understanding to strengthen social bonds
3. Reframe our view of history as a collective effort rather than individual achievements, emphasising shared responsibility and collaborative problem-solving

This aligns with established futures thinking models, particularly the 'Futures Triangle' developed by Sohail Inayatullah. The Futures Triangle consists of three forces: the Pull of the Future (attractive visions), the Push of the Present (current drivers of change), and the Weight of the Past (barriers to change). Krznaric's work enhances this model by providing historical context and depth to each of these forces, indicating how they contribute to or hinder collective resilience.

The Futures Triangle and Krznaric's Approach

Pull of the Future: Long-term Vision Setting for Resilient Societies

Krznaric emphasises the importance of long-term thinking and creating compelling visions for the future that enhance collective resilience. He encourages us to be "good ancestors" by considering the impact of our actions on future generations to support the building of societal structures that can withstand and adapt to future challenges.

For philanthropists and development organisations, this means:

• Integrating the concept of "good ancestry" into project planning to build long-term resilience (see, for example, The Good Ancestor Movement)
• Creating multi-generational visions for philanthropic initiatives that strengthen community bonds and adaptive capacities
• Supporting initiatives like Wales' Future Generations Commissioner, which institutionalises long-term thinking and societal resilience building

Push of the Present: The Disruption Nexus and Adaptive Capacity

Krznaric's concept of the "disruption nexus" addresses current drivers of change and how they can be leveraged to build collective resilience. This model suggests that transformative change occurs when three elements converge: crisis, social movements, and visionary ideas. For philanthropists, understanding this nexus can help identify opportune moments for impactful intervention that enhances society's adaptive capacity.

Practical applications include:

• Aligning philanthropic efforts with emerging social movements to strengthen community networks and shared resources
• Responding strategically to crises by supporting innovative ideas that boost collective problem-solving abilities
• Investing in projects that address the multiple and interconnected root causes of current challenges while building societal resilience

Weight of the Past: Learning from Historical Examples of Resilience

By examining historical examples of societal challenges and solutions, Krznaric offers a unique perspective on overcoming barriers to change and building collective resilience. His work helps identify both the constraining and enabling factors from our past that influence our ability to adapt and thrive in the face of adversity.

Key insights for philanthropy:

• Studying historical governance models for inspiration (e.g., the Tribunal of Waters in Valencia) to understand how communities have successfully managed shared resources during times of scarcity
• Exploring circular economic models from the past (e.g., Edo Japan) to inform sustainable development initiatives that enhance economic resilience
• Integrating indigenous knowledge into modern sustainability efforts, recognising the long-term resilience of traditional practices

The United Nations Pact for the Future: A Global Commitment to Collective Resilience

In a significant development that aligns closely with Krznaric's vision of building collective resilience, the United Nations General Assembly recently adopted the Pact for the Future. This landmark agreement honours the pioneering efforts of the Welsh Government in appointing the first Future Generations Commissioner in 2015, representing a global commitment to safeguarding the interests of future generations and enhancing our collective ability to face future challenges.

The Pact includes a dedicated "Declaration on Future Generations" that outlines principles, commitments, and actions to ensure that present-day decision-making considers the long-term impacts on future generations and builds societal resilience. Key elements that resonate with Krznaric's work include:

1. Emphasising intergenerational solidarity and dialogue to strengthen social fabric over time
2. Promoting the responsible and ethical use of science, technology, and innovation to enhance adaptive capacities
3. Prioritising urgent action on environmental challenges and climate change to build ecological resilience
4. Investing in education and lifelong learning to transfer knowledge between generations and increase societal problem-solving abilities
5. Leveraging science, data, and strategic foresight for long-term planning and risk mitigation

This global initiative provides a framework for philanthropic organisations to align their efforts with a commitment to future generations and resilience-building, potentially amplifying their impact and contributing to a more sustainable and adaptable world.

Implications for Philanthropy and Development: Building Collective Resilience

Rethinking Democracy and Governance for Adaptive Societies

Krznaric's work, now bolstered by the UN Pact for the Future, highlights historical examples of effective governance that could inspire modern philanthropic and development efforts to build more resilient societies. These include the Tribunal of Waters in Valencia, ancient Greek democracy, Renaissance Florence's random selection processes, and modern Citizens' Assemblies.

Philanthropic organisations can support experiments in participatory democracy and community-led decision-making, drawing inspiration from these historical models and aligning with the UN Pact's emphasis on inclusive governance to build more resilient societies.

Circular Economies and Sustainability: Foundations of Economic Resilience

Drawing from historical examples like Edo Japan's circular economy, Krznaric's insights can guide sustainable development initiatives that enhance economic resilience by emphasising long-term resource stewardship, promoting circular economic models, and integrating indigenous knowledge into modern sustainability efforts.

Empathy and Social Cohesion: Cornerstones of Social Resilience

As the founder of the world's first Empathy Museum, Krznaric underscores the importance of empathy in addressing social challenges and building social resilience. Initiatives like community dialogue, addressing migration challenges through historical examples, and promoting social cohesion can contribute to the intergenerational dialogue emphasised in the UN Pact for the Future.

Overcoming Short-termism: Building Long-term Resilience in Philanthropy

To address "political presentism" - the tendency to focus on short-term gains at the expense of long-term wellbeing and resilience - philanthropic organisations can:

• Advocate for institutional changes that promote long-term thinking and resilience-building
• Support the creation of roles like the Future Generations Commissioner in other countries
• Invest in education initiatives that foster long-term thinking, intergenerational responsibility, and adaptive skills

A Call to Action for Future-Focused Philanthropy: Enhancing Collective Resilience

Roman Krznaric's work, viewed through the lens of the futures triangle and reinforced by the UN Pact for the Future, challenges philanthropic organisations to enhance collective resilience by incorporating historical lessons, prioritising empathy and community engagement, embracing innovative governance models, addressing root causes of global challenges, and aligning efforts with the global commitment to future generations.

As we navigate the complexities of our rapidly changing world, Krznaric's historical perspective on collective resilience, combined with the global commitment embodied in the UN Pact for the Future, offers invaluable insights. It reminds us that while the scale of our challenges may be unprecedented, humanity has overcome significant obstacles before through collective action.

In the words of Krznaric himself, "We are the ancestors of the future. Our choices today will shape the lives of generations to come." The recent adoption of the UN Pact for the Future echoes this sentiment on a global scale, providing a powerful mandate for philanthropy to embrace this long-term perspective and build the collective resilience necessary to face whatever challenges the future may bring.

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Resilience Revisited is an occasional blog series reflecting on the need for a deeper understanding of the concept of resilience, one that inspires an exploration of its complexities and a conscious, intentional shift towards achieving strong resilience – and sustainability – individually and collectively.? It is a way of articulating my thoughts on my PhD journey. Whilst it is my primary authorship, it comes from the synthesis of many thought contributions for which I am immensely grateful.