Center for Emergent Diplomacy is a left-of-center group that formulates and recommends policies related to environmentalism and “holistic” living as a utopian alternative to the current model of civilization. ¹

Activities

Center for Emergent Diplomacy is an advocacy group that is guided by left-of-center political principles. It formulates recommendations for “holistic” societies that will allegedly replace the current model of civilization. It is a utopian futurist organization that asserts Earth is doomed to catastrophic climate disaster and is already imagining how human societies on other planets will function to prevent climate change, “forever wars,” and pandemics. It believes a harmonious, utopian society is possible if we model human society “like an ecosystem” and “revolutionize our existing systems.” ²

Its partners include the Arva Institute, Happiness Alliance, Meow Worlf, Rio Puerco y Jemez Alliance, Stem Arts, and Groundswell. ³

In 2023, Center for Emergent Diplomacy ran three projects: a climate change-related “Deep Dialogue,” a green infrastructure project in Libya called “Regenerating Ancient Water,” and “Reframing Conflict in the Middle East.” ^{4 5 6}

Declaration for American Democracy

Center for Emergent Diplomacy is a member of the Declaration for American Democracy (DFAD), a coalition comprised of over 250 groups that support its proposed “Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act.” The Act, named after the late U.S. Representative John Lewis (D-GA), would essentially federalize all elections, strengthen the Federal Election Commission (FEC), and remove many conventional election integrity measures. It would require states to make permanent emergency measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, including early voting, vote by mail (not only for absentees), and lenient voter ID laws. It would additionally make election day a federal holiday, introduce automatic same-day voter registration, and establish “federal protections” to prevent state and local election officials from receiving “undue partisan influence and control.”  ⁷

DFAD claims as a “guarantee” that The Freedom to Vote Act would ensure “fair” redistricting nationwide, and promises allegedly nonpartisan election oversight from the FEC. Furthermore, it would require super PACs, 501(c)(4) groups, and other organizations to disclose all donors, and would effectively shut down donor advised funds. It also aims to set up a fund to finance ongoing “innovations” in democracy and election infrastructure. The fund would be replenished by penalty fees paid by states who commit infractions against new election laws. Each state would get a disbursement from the fund to finance “eligible democracy and election-related investments.” ⁸

Funding

In 2019, Center for Emergent Diplomacy reported revenue of $207,882, expenses of $124,497, and net assets of $115,808. ⁹

Leadership

Merle Lefkoff is founding director of the Center for Emergent Diplomacy. She holds a Ph.D. from the Emory University and is a professional activist, lobbyist, and speaker .¹⁰ She claims to be an “international mediator/facilitator in conflict zones all around the world.” ¹¹ Board chair Marilyn Winter-Tamkin is an activist who has created several community organizations. ¹²

Its council of advisors includes Evelin Lindner, Issa Nyaphaga, Naresh Singh, John de Graaf, and Stuart Kauffman. ¹³

1. “About.” Emergent Diplomacy. Accessed February 5, 2023. https://www.emergentdiplomacy.org/about.
2. “About.” Emergent Diplomacy. Accessed February 5, 2023. https://www.emergentdiplomacy.org/about.
3. “Our Team.” Emergent Diplomacy. Accessed February 5, 2023. https://www.emergentdiplomacy.org/our-team.
4. “Deep Dialogue.” Emergent Diplomacy. Accessed February 5, 2023. https://www.emergentdiplomacy.org/deep-dialogue
5. “Reframing Conflict in the Middle East.” Emergent Diplomacy. Accessed February 5, 2023. https://www.emergentdiplomacy.org/reframing-conflict-middle-east.
6. “Regenerating Ancient Water.” Emergent Diplomacy. Accessed February 5, 2023. https://www.emergentdiplomacy.org/about-3.
7. “Declaration for American Democracy.” DFADCoalition.org. Accessed February 4, 2023. https://dfadcoalition.org/. Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20230204223830/https://dfadcoalition.org/.
8. “Declaration for American Democracy.” DFADCoalition.org. Accessed February 4, 2023. https://dfadcoalition.org/. Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20230204223830/https://dfadcoalition.org/.
9. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Center for Emergent Diplomacy. 2019. Part I, lines 12, 18, 22.
10. “Merle Lefkoff.” EnvisionBigPicture.com. Accessed February 5, 2023. https://www.envisionthebigpicture.com/merle.
11. “Our Team.” Emergent Diplomacy. Accessed February 5, 2023. https://www.emergentdiplomacy.org/our-team.
12. “Our Team.” Emergent Diplomacy. Accessed February 5, 2023. https://www.emergentdiplomacy.org/our-team.
13. “Our Team.” Emergent Diplomacy. Accessed February 5, 2023. https://www.emergentdiplomacy.org/our-team.