Frequently asked questions
Pioneering Planetary Relations : a regenerative approach to power
In its new report, Perspectivist develops an innovative and ecological framework to guide political communications and advocacy. The Planetary Relations Framework offers a narrative-led approach to shift power dynamics regeneratively. It offers guidance on narrative strategy, identifying political, public, and mediatic agendas fertile to the own cause, and developing purposeful. Beyond siloed and mechanistic approaches, Planetary Relations address root causes and identify high potential areas of intervention inspired by nature.
Today’s efforts to tackle our multiple existential crises are scattered. Siloed policymaking, highly specialized or meaningless debates, and a wave of despair and disillusionment shape the current landscape for change-makers. Populist forces have moved beyond evidence, capitalizing on the power of emotions and captivating narratives. Against that background, our report on “Pioneering Planetary Relations” offers an ecosystemic approach to create momentum for confluent change through experienceable and engaging regenerative narratives.
The big comeback of authoritarianism and the global PR orchestration of climate denial, among others, are a threat to democracy, climate action, peace and more. Far-right forces like Trump or Fox News have perfectly understood the power of narratives in speaking to the lived experience of many. They cater to (subconscious) projections, beliefs, and trauma. The “post-truth era” comes at a time when the narratives of the 20th century fail to create meaning, a shared feeling of belonging, and a common vision for the future.
Despite such a context, the worlds of Public Relations, policy communications, and Public Affairs have largely remained within their constraints. Common to many of its actors is a reductionist policy paradigm that segments policy issues into siloes, overemphasizes facts and figures over wisdom, and works at a level of abstraction that is disconnected from affected communities. At a deeper level, a militaristic mindset and language (strategy, targeting, positioning etc.) set the scene for how we think about power: a battlefield.
While evidence-based advocacy had been advanced for more effective decision-making, we can see a backlash of aggressive strategies. Many of today’s lobbying strategies were inspired by the tobacco industry script: “fabricating” scientific truths, deviating the focus of debates, and the “naming, blaming, shaming” game. Lies, aggressive narratives, fearmongering and other dirty PR tricks lead not only to disinformation, but primarily to disengagement, fear, aggression, and (silent) resignation. Together with a generally decreasing attention span in our communication age, this makes it extra difficult to bring forward a positive vision.
The Planetary Relation Report is an invitation to consider the question : what if power was our capacity to lead break-throughs in living systems – like a seed becoming a tree? If our power lies in our capacity to act “as nature”, our potential inspirations are almost endless. Yet, only a few solutions will be adequate in the specific context we are operating in. Therefore, it is crucial to gain an understanding of ecosystemic power dynamics – we can for instance map how different policy issues are interconnected to understand where interventions promise the greatest chance for breakthroughs.
