Dr. Don Edward Beck leitet die globale Initiative "Spiral Dynamics Group, Inc.". Er arbeitete viele Jahre eng an der Seite von Clare Graves bis zu dessen Tod im Jahre 1986. In den 80er und 90er Jahren engagierte sich Don Beck für eine Umgestaltung der politischen Verhältnisse in Südafrika zur Überwindung der Apartheid. Zwischen 1981 und 1998 besuchte er das Land über 60mal und hatte in bezug auf eine friedliche Umgestaltung des Landes bedeutenden Einfluss auf politische Führer, den Wirtschaftsektor, religiöse Führungspersönlichkeiten und die allgemeine Öffentlichkeit.
In seiner langjährigen Beratertätigkeit arbeitete er mit großen Banken, US-Fluggesellschaften, Energiekonzernen, dem Gesundheitswesen, dem Strafvollzug, Städteparlamenten und vielen weiteren öffentlichen Institutionen zusammen. Politisch Verantwortliche wie Tony Blair, Nelson Mandela, Mitglieder der mexikanischen Regierung oder Bill Clinton luden ihn zu Gesprächen und Beratungen über die Zukunft ihres Landes ein.
Er ist Mitbegründer des Integralen Instituts von Ken Wilber, der in seinen Studien ähnliche Muster der menschlichen Evolution wie Clare Graves entdeckte und in seinen Werken beschreibt. Mit den Centers of Human Emergence in Dänemark und den Niederlanden hat Don Beck eine Initiative in Gang gesetzt, die in den nächsten Monaten und Jahren in zahlreichen Ländern rund um den Globus die theoretischen, praktischen und personalen Möglichkeiten bereitstellen will, um den notwendigen Wandel in Individuen, Organisationen und Gesellschaften zu fördern und die komplexen Herausforderungen des 21. Jahrhunderts zu meistern.
Dr. Don E. Beck and his engagement in South Africa
Beck first went to South Africa in l981. After two or three subsequent visits Beck and Clare Graves decided that this would afford a unique opportunity to field test the entire Levels of Existence theory since all of the historic value systems were compressed in that microcosm of the entire planet. They then created what was first known as 'Strategic Evolution' as a practical programme to facilitate the massive transformation that would be required. During the final five years of his life, Graves consulted often with Beck to give advice and counsel at many of the critical transitional stages.
Over a 16 year period Dr. Don E. Beck built up a network of contacts and personal relationships. He made more than 60 trips from Texas to South Africa, he appeared often on television talk shows such as the popular Good Morning South Africa on SABC-TV and was a frequent guest on Radio 702 and other radio outlets. He lectured at academic institutions, before the various medical and scientific societies, and even the leadership of the Dutch Reformed Church.
A series of six articles he had published in all the South African newspapers in April 1989 influenced the release of Nelson Mandela and the start of the peace process. Beck worked with the teams of Mandela, F W DeKlerk and Mangasuto Buthulezi in promoting the peace initiative and in designing the post-Apartheid economic, political and educational systems and structures.
Just how influential Beck was at this time is reflected in the following transcript from the official record of the Debates of Parliament (Hansard, pages 342-343) on Thursday 7 February l991. Dr F Hartzenberg, one of the leaders of the Conservative Party, was speaking. He was attacking FW De Klerk, leader of the National Party and the State President of South Africa:
DR HARTZENBERG: The ultimate is that the hon the State President's Manifesto is actually a version of the advice which Dr Don Beck of Texas gave the Government two years ago. It appeared in a series of articles in The Star of 29 April l989. Everything contained in the Manifesto is what he says has to be done. I shall not mention everything to hon members but he speaks inter alia of "nation building" and says that is what the hon the State President should do and that is what the hon the State President is announcing now.
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH SERVICES AND WELFARE (Representatives): Schlemmer says so too!
DR F HARTZENBERG: He says that all discriminatory legislation must be removed, and the hon the State President approves this. He has a third point to make, in addition to the other points which appear in exactly the same form in the hon the State President's Manifesto and which were announced by the hon the State President. He says: Finally, an extensive evolutionary model for change would have to be developed and this would require summit meetings of the leaders of all groupings in the country, First World and Third World.
Beck and his South African colleagues used what became Spiral Dynamics to map out several possible futures for South Africa and predicted, along with others, the HIV/Aids crisis, the out-of-control crime rate, the high levels of corruption as well as other manifestations of the value system (vMEMETIC) contours in that society.
Beck's own account of his early work in South Africa is given in 'The Crucible: Forging South Africa's Future' (co-written with Graham Linscott in 1991). The best-seller was dedicated to Clare W Graves as he had died in the winter of l986 before he could witness the first large scale application of his seminal work.
After the establishment of multi-cultural democracy, Beck was commended by both President Mandela and Chief Minister Buthulezi and honoured by a joint resolution of both houses of the Texas Congress. Below is an extract from the joint resolution, initially proposed in the House of Representatives:-
House Resolution No. 224 74R6013 KMP-D Texas, 1996
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives takes great pride in commending a truly remarkable Texan, Dr Don Edward Beck, for his invaluable contributions toward the peaceful creation of a democratic South Africa; and...
WHEREAS, In 1979 this outstanding educator resigned his tenured position at the University of North Texas to devote himself fully toward ending apartheid in South Africa, a decision that received strong support and required great sacrifice from his loving wife and children; and
WHEREAS, during the next 15 years, Dr Beck worked behind the scenes with governmental officials, civil rights leaders, business investors and owners, and international diplomats to develop successful strategies for attaining a more peaceful transition of power in that troubled nation; during the final four years of this transformation, he was the only private citizen from the United States directly involved in the high-level negotiations that ultimately led to the release of political prisoners and the triumphant dissolution of the apartheid regime; and...let it be
RESOLVED, that the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas Legislature hereby commend Dr Don Edward Beck on his many extraordinary contributions toward peace and understanding in South
Africa and extend warmest best wishes to Dr Beck and his family for success and happiness in their future endeavors; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that an official copy of this resolution be prepared as an expression of gratitude and high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
See also:
http://www.integratedsociopsychology.net/don_beck-southafrica.html
A rich source of Don Beck’s work in South Africa, including newspaper articles as well as a document about his work with the South African Springboks Rugby Team, that won the World Cup in 1995, you find in the Integral Leadership Review, January 2010 at
www.integralleadershipreview.com
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