Sociocracy

Sociocracy is an organizational form, with the organizations of various sizes - from family, to companies and NGOs to the government - can consistently implement self-organization. In their modern form, it is based on knowledge of systems theory. Your main objective is to guarantee a lower limit for Social Security, because ignoring of needs is structurally avoided. The members of an organization develop collective intelligence responsibility both for the success of the organization as a whole and for each individual.

• 5.1 Representatives of the sociocracy

Etymology

Derived from the Latin and is sociocracy ancient Greek words socius, companion ' and kratein, rule '. The French philosopher Auguste Comte, who also created the term sociology, coined in 1851 sociocratie the word. Later it was used by the U.S. sociologist Lester Frank Ward in a paper he wrote in 1881 for the Penn Monthly.

Development in the 20th century

Kees Boeke

Mid-20th century educator Kees Boeke updated the reform ideas of Ward and expanded it considerably. Boeke saw sociocracy as a form of government or management that comes from having equal rights of individuals and is based on the principle of consent. This equality is in contrast to democracy not by the principle of "one person - one vote" embodies, but by the principle that a decision can be taken only if no one present has a serious and reasoned objection against it.

Sociocracy are the majority in group decision-making processes less power and the individual more power than democracy. Therefore, it was seen by its founders as the next step after democracy. The need for a consensus would make them vulnerable to political paralysis ( except in small, homogenous groups ) A man can with a firm, reasoned objection block any decision. To reduce this problem it is not asked if everyone agrees, but if someone is on the other hand ( which creates a psychological hurdle). In some forms of sociocracy a mere disapproval of the application is not enough, but you have to make a sound argument. Sociocracy therefore not based on the principle of consensus, but on the principle of consent (English: consent), which means that not all participants have to agree.

To apply sociocracy in larger groups, a system of delegation is required, in which the group selects representatives who make the decisions at a higher level for them. Kees Boeke led naasthoger and naastlager the expressions a. Naast (Dutch for ' next ') refers to the fact that a higher level is not set higher than a lower one. The decision-making body of a " next higher " level may in a sociocratic organization 's policies, not one " next lower " force level.

Gerard Endenburg

1970 transferred Gerard Endenburg the work of his teacher Boekes to the electrical company, which he had inherited from his parents two years earlier. It was the method of organization Sociocratische Kringorganisatiemethode (English Sociocratic Circle Organization Method), which helped in 1976 to overcome a corporate crisis and global attention was.

According Endenburg there are four basic principles in sociocracy:

Problems sociocracy as facilitation method

Sociocracy want to do without voting, it should include arguments and not heads. Each circle member can slow down by a serious objection decision making. Here, everyone decides individually whether there is a " serious " objection with respect to the common goal. However, part of the objection whatsoever an argument, what is behind the serious objection. With the help of this argument, a new solution is found in the group also considered this argument. This decision needs more time and a competent moderation. If problems that require a scheduled decision, no solution can be found in a circle, so the theme is delegated to the solution at the next higher circle.