Constructive Conflict Guide > The Massively Parallel Strategy for Dealing with Scale and Complexity______________________
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BI Article
The Massively Parallel Approach — the Key to Dealing with Scale and Complexity
The 7th installment of our "Big Picture Series," this post explains why "massively parallel" action--in peacebuilding, problem solving, democracy building, and civic renewal is the best way to deal with the staggering complexity and scale of society-wide conflicts.
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Massively Parallel Peacebuilding Paper
An overview of Massively Parallel Peacebuilding (MPP) which explains how we think it can help us better deal with complex, large-scale, intractable conflict.
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Massively Parallel Problem Solving and Democracy Building: An Ongoing Response to the Threats to Democracy in the U.S.
An overview statement of Guy and Heidi Burgess's framing of the "democracy problem," what is at risk and how massively parallel processes are the best (and likely the only) way to overcome the many challenges democracies currently face.
BI Article
Massively Parallel Peacebuilding/Problem Solving
The first of our new shorter format newsletters we finish up our paper on massively parallel peacebuilding and introduce what comes next.
BI Article
Massively Parallel Peacebuilding Action List
Initial list of the "actions" people can take to address all ten MPP challenges.
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Why MPP Isn't Such a Crazy Idea
Other successful massive problem-solving efforts provide models for how MPP might actually work.
BI Article
Massively Parallel Peacebuilding: Video Presentation to the Institute for Global Negotation
A video talk that Guy and Heidi Burgess gave to IGN in September, 2021 on Massively Parallel Peacebuilding (MPP)
BI Article
Essential Elements + Obstacles = The Things That Need Doing Matrix
An introduction to a matrix of "things that need doing" to fix democracy, together with a blog post on an "inter-movement" designed to help do those things and two more posts on the nature of polarization.
BI Article
Complexity-Oriented, Massively Parallel Reconciliation
This video applies the notions of complexity and "massively-parallel peacebuilding" to the concept of reconciliation.
BI Article
Addressing the Skeptics And Moving Forward
The first of our new shorter format newsletters we finish up our paper on massively parallel peacebuilding and introduce what comes next.
BI Article
Using the MPP Action List: The Authoritarian Populism Example (Part I)
An explanation of what we mean by the "authoritarian populism challenge" and how the MPP action list can help address it.
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Using the MPP Action List: The Authoritarian Populism Example (Part II)
An overview of six upcoming Frontiers Seminar posts that explore the authoritarian populism problem and ways to address it.
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Meeting the Adaptation Challenge
Continuing with the biological analogy, adaptation, too, is key to adapting to changing conditions without driving conflict escalation.
BI Article
Could Massively Parallel Processes Make Hyper-Polarization Worse?
Bad-faith actors can and do use a massively parallel strategy to drive us apart. But that doesn't mean that the strategy is bad -- it means that it is effective. Good-faith actors need to learn how to use similar techniques to bring us together.
BI Article
The Decentralized, "Markets Plus" Metaphor
Markets are another manifestation of complexity that can be applied to complex conflict response.
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Pursue the Opportunities Created by All Conflict Problems
All problems create opportunities for the people who can solve them. So instead of seeing problems as insoluble, if we try to figure out how to solve them, even if we fail, we are likely to make things somewhat better.
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Strengthening the Relationship between Theory and Action
One problem in the conflict and peace fields is that there is not a strong connection between theory and practice. Most scholarship is done at universities; most practice is done private practitioners, NGOs and government actors. None talk to each other or learn from each other as much as they could or should.
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Amplifying and Speeding the Natural Conflict Learning Process
MPP is not a new idea; rather it is a new term to describe a process that has long been happening. But it can be sped up by getting people to understand how it works, and facilitating more awareness of what others are doing and coordinating or collaborating where it makes sense.
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Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adjustment
After any theory of change is implemented, it is important to monitor and evaluate the results, since complex systems often do not respond in the way we expect. If things are not working, we have to be ready to change course and do something different, not just push harder on a failed approach (as is sometimes done).
BI Article
Learning More about How the TRUST Network Does Massively Parallel Peacebuilding
Democracy is a complex adaptive system. This means we need a complex, adaptive response to the many threats that it faces. The TRUST Network is one.
BI Article
The Google Traffic Metaphor
Google Traffic models a complex system, and has useful elements to be copied in complex conflict responses as well.
BI Article
The Key to Saving Democracy: Reducing Polarization? Promoting Justice? It Takes More Than That!
There's no one answer to "saving democracy." We need to pursue many different things all at the same time.
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Massively Parallel Democracy Building Goals
Massively parallel problem-solving efforts focus on a series of shared goals — goals that are an essential part of building a society in which most everyone would like to live.
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Specialized Massively Parallel Roles / Tasks
The massively parallel strategy for more constructively handling society's many conflicts relies upon an extensive system of specialization and the division of labor.
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The Massively Parallel Strategy for Dealing with Scale and Complexity
The massively parallel strategy for dealing with the scale and complexity of societal conflict focuses on cultivating a large array of independent, but mutually supportive, efforts to address different aspects of the conflict simultaneously.
Colleague Activities
The Case for Expanding the Landscape of Democracy Work
A long-term, holistic vision of how democracy could evolve in the US and the role that Organizers could play in that work.
Colleague Activities
The Antidote to Authoritarianism
Ordinary people, organized effectively, have the power to drive social change upwards to create the conditions for justice, equity, and freedom. 27 leaders reflect on how to do this now.