Blog break over – did you miss me? Thought not. After a month in writing purdah, I sent off the How Change Happens manuscript to OUP last week, so it is now their problem (for a couple of months at least).
So let’s get restarted with a spot of whimsy. One of the ideas that never made it into the final draft of the book was a critique of the lyrics of the Beatles’ ‘Revolution’. That’s partly because it was written (by John Lennon of course, far too intellectual for Macca) during the tumultuous year of 1968, as a response to the debates on violent v non-violent action, and I thought that would probably be ancient history to most of the book’s intended readership. But it seems a shame to waste it, so here you are:
| John Lennon | How Change Happens commentary |
| You say you want a revolution Well, you know We all want to change the world You tell me that it’s evolution Well, you know We all want to change the world |
We don’t say ‘revolution’ any more – please replace with ‘transformative change’. Good to see reference to evolution and systems thinking – have you read Beinhocker? |
| But when you talk about destruction Don’t you know that you can count me out |
You need to rethink: destruction clearly important in terms of economic progress (Schumpeter), and more widely, contestation/conflict often essential aspect of social/political change – ask John Gaventa |
| Don’t you know it’s gonna be alright Alright, alright |
Spelling? What is the evidence base for this assertion? |
| You say you got a real solution Well, you know We’d all love to see the plan You ask me for a contribution Well, you know We’re all doing what we can |
Surely single solutions are implausible, given context specificity? Would certainly be interested in seeing the plan (is it a proper logframe?). ‘Doing what we can’ sounds terribly voluntarist and is only an input – how do you intend to measure results? |
| But if you want money for people with minds that hate All I can tell you is brother you have to wait |
Wouldn’t constructive engagement stand a better chance of success than a boycott, perhaps a multi-stakeholder initiative round changing ‘hate’ norms? |
| You say you’ll change the constitution Well, you know We all want to change your head You tell me it’s the institution Well, you know You’d better free your mind instead |
Changing constitutions is difficult enough, but what about implementation? Changing norms (‘your head’) might be more feasible, but takes decades. In either case, what’s your theory of change?
Norms are themselves an institution (‘rules of the game’) so false distinction in last line |
| But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao You ain’t going to make it with anyone anyhow |
Baffling non sequitur – please explain |
| Don’t you know know it’s gonna be alright Alright, alright Alright, alright |
Positive framing always welcome, but this seems unnecessarily repetitive |
And here’s the song. I’m contemplating a new improved How Change Happens version……
And if you like this kind of thing, check out Bob Marley on the food price crisis