In this volume, Korten adds human developmental stage growth and the history of dominator pathology into his already massively lucid understand of how social systems malfunction in the direction of an “imperial” model. This is one of the most ethically uplifting and socially inspiring critiques that I have read in a long time. One can hardly fail to discern, in contemporary culture, those elements which Korten illuminates. The failure, deception, unconscious aggression and self-destruction inherent in a certain range of approaches to social organization must become painfully obvious to the majority if we have any shot at intelligently increasing the broad-spectrum wealth and maturity of our entire community.

Energy always flows either toward hope, community, love, generosity, mutual recognition, and spiritual aliveness or it flows toward despair, cynicism, fear that there is not enough, paranoia about the intentions of others, and a desire to control.