Overview
The issues of poverty, inequality, racial justice, and climate change have never been more pressing or paralyzing. Current approaches to social change, which rely on industrial models of production and power, are not helping. In fact, they are designed to entrench the status quo.
In The Systems Work of Social Change, Cynthia Rayner and François Bonnici draw on two hundred years of history and a treasure trove of stories of committed social change-makers to uncover principles and practices for social change that radically depart from industrial approaches.
Rather than delivering “solutions,” these principles and practices focus on the process of change itself. Through rich storytelling and lucid analysis, Rayner and Bonnici show that connection, context, and power sit at the heart of the change process, ensuring broader agency for people and communities to create social systems that are responsive and representative in a rapidly changing world.
Simple yet profound, this book distils a timely set of lessons for practitioners, leaders, scholars, and policymakers.
Reviews
"A radical reframing of how we all need to work
to reimagine a just future.
— Cheryl Dorsey, President, Echoing Green
"It will guide those who work in and think
about systems change for a generation.
A breakthrough book.”
— Stephan Chambers, Director, Marshall Institute,
London School of Economics and Political Science
“Addressing inequalities and deep-rooted injustices in our society requires a clear vision of the world we want and a process to get there. Cynthia and Francois clearly articulate the key lessons and principles by which we can get there. A must read for those who believe that together we can build a better world!”
— Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director, UNAIDS
“Illuminates the almost always overlooked
source of deep change."
—Peter Senge, Founder of the Society for Organizational Learning and author of The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning
“Doers and donors alike will find in this book indispensable tools for ambitious, forward-thinking systemic work.”
— Ambassador Don Gips ret., Chief Executive Officer, Skoll Foundation
“Most social change that really matters involves trying to shift systems. This is a practical guide that reminds us that even the most apparently immovable interests can be overcome and even the most apparently intractable problems can be solved.”
— Professor Sir Geoff Mulgan, University College London
“Rayner and Bonnici demonstrate that the collective power and voice of the most marginalized groups are in fact central to societal transformation.”
— Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Motsepe Foundation and Chancellor, University of Cape Town
“An indispensable guide for social change aspirants everywhere.”
—John Kania, Founder and Executive Director, Collective Change Lab
“An honest taking stock of what system work entails. A must read for researchers and practitioners interested in system change."
—Johanna Mair, Professor of Organization, Strategy and Leadership, Hertie School of Governance, Academic Editor of the Stanford Social Innovation Review
It encourages practitioners, policymakers and funders not only to do something radically different but to understand our social systems in radically different ways. I strongly recommend you read it - it will set you thinking differently.
— Jeroo Billimoria, Founder, Catalyst 2030 and One Family Foundation
“I found myself learning so much as I read this extraordinary book from cover to cover.”
— Professor Peter Tufano, Peter Moores Dean,
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
“It helps you to think big without ignoring the smaller, unsexy details of ground delivery. Must read."
—Asif Saleh, Executive Director, BRAC
“Bonnici and Rayner have taken the oft quoted but seldom understood concepts of systems thinking and shown how they can and have been translated into practical action by social impact practitioners at both global and local levels."
—James Mwangi, Executive Director, The Dalberg Group
“With special attention to the role of context and power, this book is a roadmap for deep change in tackling today's multiple crises. "
— Julie Battilana, Alan L. Gleitsman Professor of Social Innovation; Founder and Faculty Chair, Social Innovation & Change Initiative, Harvard Kennedy School
“In a world beset by wicked problems,
this book illuminates a way forward."
—Alnoor Ebrahim, Professor, The Fletcher School at Tufts University, and author of Measuring Social Change: Performance and Accountability in a Complex World
“It is a book that speaks to the moment.”
—Diana Wells, President Emerita, Ashoka
“The Systems Work of Social Change presents nothing less than a blueprint for deep social change in a post-Covid world. "
— Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum, and
Hilde Schwab, Chairperson, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship