SQUARE reinventing democracy box v5jpg (1)_9_1

We hope you had time to catch up on the series that’s got progressive from across the country talking: Reinventing democracy, reclaiming the commons: A progressive dialogue on the future of Canada.

The series began in May 2011 just after we celebrated our 10th anniversary and looks at where the Left stands after the 2011 federal election, and what the future can hold.

Edited by Murray Dobbin with Sharon Fraser, the series resumes this week after an August hiatus:

A civil society strategy for revitalizing the Left

Steve D’Arcy

Steve D’Arcy argues that the Left must turn its attention back toward grassroots civil society that can inspire hope.

Read past articles here:

Beyond resistance: From the old to the new Left

Judy Rebick

In the second of this two-part article, Judy Rebick discusses the importance of multi-generational dialogue in coming up with social change strategies.

Beyond resistance: Creating a better world here and now 

Judy Rebick

Part one: After last year’s G20, I spent time away from the mad activism that has characterized much of my adult life in order to write my memoir. I discovered I feel more hopeful than ever.

Love in a time of climate crisis

Velcrow Ripper

My journey has been to recognize the life-affirming spirit of our times. I learned that if we treat this earth better, potential disaster could be transformed into the greatest love story ever told.

How the right knocks over democratic building blocks

Jamie Biggar

As creeping erosion diminishes our experience of progress through democracy, organizers need to step up their practice to provide it.

The Left and the end of Harper

Alan Sears

I have a dream about the end of Harper, in which he is driven from office, a reviled figure.

The lure of the grassroots: Step beyond private life to public good

Charles Dobson

Two related obstacles are the bigness of public problems and citizens feeling they are not competent to address them. Yet big problems are exactly those that require the tonic of citizen engagement.

When politics is personal what happens to people?

Erika Shaker

We must move beyond the selfish individualism of the right that leads to irresponsible greed, and sell the solid progressive alternative of societal interconnectedness — which benefits everyone.

Where do we go from here? Building an intergenerational progressive movement

Kevin Millsip

Next Up seeks to help young people develop skills, network, meet social change leaders and get insight into the best progressive policy solutions to many environmental and social justice challenges.

Reinventing democracy, reclaiming the commons: The plural present

Janet Newbury

How does the little guy oppose the neo-liberal giant that is wreaking havoc on civil rights and environmental stability?

Citizen engagement: The overarching solution

Charles Dobson

If those who make up the attentive public realize they have been conned by a system set up for stability at the expense of individual and societal well-being, we could make some big changes.