Robin Asby
Biography
Robin Asby is a writer and researcher, and a retired academic, entrepreneur, and consultant, author of ‘Thinking Systems: an organic language of harmony for human survival‘, published by Triachy Press in 2021. I obtained a degree in Mathematics from Cambridge University (1965), and a PhD from London University in Mathematical Physics (1968). In my career I have held posts in a number of UK universities and one in the United States. I spent 16 years training teachers, and have also worked for a short time in information technology. My major research interest has been in the development of understanding of Systems Thinking, and its underpinning philosophy. I am currently working on two projects. The first of these projects is to investigate how we can build a truly democratic governing system; that is a governing system to which everyone can contribute and which uses everyone’s expertise. The second project is to better explain the central thesis of my book, which is that Western Society has eschewed process thinking to its detriment.
Sessions
Community Governance
My contributions to establishing the Bloomfield Community Centre in Narberth, Pembrokeshire (1980s), and founding the Todmorden Learning Centre in West Yorkshire (2010s) have led to the understanding presented here. The two central themes of community development:- providing opportunities for establishing and developing relationships between members of the community; understanding successful democratic cooperative managing of the processes involved; viz- Creating a community hub where members of the community can meet so that new relationships are made and old relationships are strengthened. The hub must be welcoming to all, drawing people in to enjoy themselves, discuss problems, and begin the tasks of improving the community. The hub should become a seeding ground for ideas, and collective help, establishing community enterprises which are grounded in supporting the community and in cooperative ideals. This will lessen dependence on outside provision of the necessary goods and services that are required by the community. Ensuring the ideals and culture developed in the hub become those of the formal community government will further enable development towards sustainability, opening the possibility of new funding. Spreading the ideas and culture of sustainability and cooperation to surrounding communities, helping build their communities toward sustainability will strengthen our community in trading locally, gathering new ideas, and helping others. Working together with neighbouring communities when they have achieved the first four stages of this journey will enable this culture and way of being to move to the next level of governing.