Integral Green Slovenia: Towards a Social Knowledge and Value Based Society and Economy at the Heart of Europe

Ronnie Lessem and Alexander Schieffer's Integral Green Society and Economy series has three overarching aims. The first is to link together two major movements of our time, one philosophical, the other practical. The philosophical movement is towards what many today are calling an 'integral' age, while the practical is the 'green' movement, duly aligned with that of sustainable development. The second is to blend together elements of nature and community, culture and spirituality, science and technology, politics and economics, thus serving to bring about an 'integral green' vision, albeit with a focus on business and economics. As such, the authors transcend the limitations to sustainable development and environmental economics, which are overly ecological, if not also technological, in orientation, and exclude social and cultural elements. Thirdly, this particular volume, with Darja Piciga, focuses specifically on Slovenia, as well as on Europe generally, drawing on the particular issues and capacities that this country and continent represents, particularly for sustainable development and social knowledge-based economy.

The emphasis on Slovenia arose, not only because it lies at the heart of Europe, but because a specific movement for an Integral Green Slovenian Society and Economy, has been co-evolved there, by the three editors in conjunction with Slovene organisations, communities and movements, with a view to integrating existing and emerging knowledge resources, initiatives and practices into a model, as an alternative to austerity, for Slovenia and other European countries.

Dr. Darja Piciga is co-founder and leading figure of the Citizens' Initiative for an Integral Green Slovenia. She embodies Trans4m's integral approach in her professional and government career (fusing knowledge and experiences over a wide span of scientific, educational and policy areas) as well as in civil society activities (uniting stakeholders from all "integral worlds").

Prof. Alexander Schieffer graduated from and lectures at St. Gallen University and is Co-Founder of Trans4m, Geneva. With Lessem, he co-authored Integral Economics and developed the Integral Worlds approach, as well as being a joint Series Editor of the Transformation and Innovation Series and the Integral Green Society and Economy Series.

Prof. Ronnie Lessem is also co-founder of Trans4m. A graduate from Harvard Business School and London School of Economics, he is Zimbabwean by birth, and now a UK Citizen. He has been a management educator and consultant in Africa, Asia, Europe and America and is the author of over 30 books on the development of self, business and society.