Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Dynamic Governance-Sociocracy workshop June 15-16 in Boston MA

[Doug Chamberlin (chamberlin.doug]

On 5/5/12 8:37 AM, Sharon Villines wrote:
> The problem here is the definition of "unanimity". Diane was speaking of 
> "unanimous agreement." It's my belief that no one teaching consensus 
> decision-making has ever defined consensus as unanimous agreement with a 
> proposal, but rather unanimous consent to go forward with a proposal. Consent 
> does not imply agreement. And never has.
Perhaps it was not taught but almost all groups I have encountered that
are using consensus strive for unanimous agreement. Maybe they have
devolved to that point and lost sight of their original intent. I don't
know for sure.

I do know that many groups are looking at sociocracy as an alternative
specifically to shift from their current goal of unanimous agreement to
something more workable. For these groups the goal of unanimous consent
and "consent does not imply agreement" are new concepts that sociocracy
brings to the table, thus its appeal.