ABSTRACT
At their heart, regenerative development projects seek to create beneficial systems evolution. This work requires new forms of interaction and the development of new capacities in individuals, groups, and communities. This chapter explores how the application of insights from the social sciences can inform and elevate the practice and processes of regenerative development. Drawing on theory and case studies from positive psychology and social network science, we explore how these fields can deepen our understanding of how to facilitate groups in regenerative processes. We investigate the following questions: How can the group processes best be facilitated to help realize potential in regenerative development projects? How do regenerative practitioners engage people in what might be a long and arduous process and how do they keep people engaged? What strategies are used to build robust and productive networks that enable collective action and avoid the pitfalls that block collective action? We describe a constellation of activities practiced by regenerative practitioners that when done intentionally have the capacity to evolve networks, keep diverse stakeholders engaged, and increase capacity for collective action.