ELS 2017: Can Burning Man Culture Spark Political Change?

The common humanity felt at Burning Man is a far cry from our increasingly divided political world. In this talk from the 2017 Burning Man European Leadership Summit in Stockholm, Ronan Harrington, Founder of Alter Ego, reveals the vital role deep experience plays in uniting people around a new political vision.

[@zazouille2264]

Very interesting talk

[@kleenandeezy]

if people cared to listen, he talks NOT about bringing politics INTO BM, but how can we change politics so that you can bring BM OUT to the everyday world. The logic is this: BM is self liberating, fun and profound -> let's make more people feel that more of the time -> life becomes more liberating, fun and meaningful. what's not to like ?

[@jahzen7]

Fantastic work thank you Ronan :) I have had the honor of experiencing the transformational freedom and connected energy of the magic of Burning Man twice and can relate to what Ronan is saying. Beautifully spoken and clearly delivered. Respect!

[@timothyblazer1749]

*sigh* The entire talk was partisan, and fairly hard leftist. He is throwing out ideology as if it is fact.This is very disappointing. BRC can ONLY exist outside of the event as an idea of community. The World is still a harsh place, and it still takes migrant farm labor to pick the kale and peas that you eat in your meals when you are out there. Living takes WORK. If you eliminate that labor, then who does it? Anyway, One week per year, we let all of that go in a Bacchanal. That's BRC. I am always stunned at the lack of understanding of how much labor it takes to actually run a civilization by those whom don't partake on that labor. What I want to hear about is this same talk, but from a coal miner, oil worker, farmer or Arborist. From a sewer worker, utility lineman, or plumber. From the people who make things work. For that reason, DPW is the most impressive and amazing part of the event. I always bring two handles of Tequila to randomly gift to them, every year. I try to do more. They make it go. They are the reason it can even exist. SO maybe, bring DPW on here to talk about community and what THEY think can happen. They will have the wisdom this man doesn't have. Also, Marxism killed over 150 million people in the 20th century. Maybe we shouldn't quote Marxists. Maybe they are wrong, and maybe... just maybe... voluntarism, meritocracy and charity are the way to go.

[@HFSF415]

"Personal and interpersonal development is a societal concern that’s too important to solely remain a private responsibility. It must become one of the most central issues in public life." Ronan Harrington

[@mojrablomberg9821]

13:50

[@liomer3430]

first sentence "so that was a talk about politics" No, it's not blaaah blaah blaaaaaaah

[@vault9263]

I am really getting sick of this millenialist trope whereby one of them trips over some hoary old idea and thinks it has just sprung from their woefully limited experience. Can Burner culture spark political change? Yes. It already has, repeatedly. It has been doing so for decades. Black Rock City, being a city of desire, as city where everyone comes in having all their basic human needs already taken care of, a city where no one NEEDS to rely on anyone not of their choosing, has given us a glimpse into where a post-scarcity society might go. And that 'post-scarcity' part is VERY important. Too many political philosophies are, at base, nothing more than an excuse for a self-proclaimed enlightened elite to 'free' the people of the burden of what to do with 'scarce' resources. Playgrounds for people who 'know better' or who 'know what's best for you' to create castles in the air while the people on the ground have to do the work to keep the wheels of civilization turning. For a week, every year, we can be free of them--in Black Rock City. Most of us must plan, and prepare for this week over the course of a year. Setting aside things we'll need, planning for contingencies--all so we have everything we'll need. And then we do something magical. We bring more, something to gift, something to share, some way to add a piece of ourselves to the society we've built. And we do this all without those philosophizers nattering over us. We do it without force, without peer pressure Granted, today, we benefit from a lot of infrastructure that wasn't always there--we stand on the shoulders of previous Burners--we inherit the benefit of hard work that others put in so that Black Rock City would grow and get better--and all of it done voluntarily. Some folks see it as a triumph of tired old leftist ideas. But it isn't. It can't be--because there's no real plan besides some very basic structural points--the streets go this way, center camp is here, the man is there--everything else is the work of individual effort. Everything is the work of people giving freely of themselves, not because the have to--but because they want to. Burning Man is voluntarism writ large. And, strangely enough, voluntarism is the cooperative societal structure that both the left, and the right, at their grassroots aspire to. Everyone giving freely, of their own free will(right) to create a cohesive interconnected society(left). When you take away the oppositional rhetoric, people do what makes them happy--and that tends to be pretty much the same for everyone.

[@tmcboston1]

answer 'probably not'

[@noyb154]

Is he dressed as a fawn? Is that a pan flute or a remote control?

[@Hayseman-zk3do]

STFU you stupid hick.

[@EgonCom]

Nope. Or in other words: I hope they won't even try it.

[@noyb154]

Can we smell the emotional manipulation? and complete lack of logic and reason?

[@727skirk]

TOTAL BULL SHITZ !!!