External link
| License | CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
|---|---|
| Cite as | Olivier C (2009–2025). "Deep-democracy". Appropedia. Retrieved September 30, 2026. |
Deep Democracy is a concept, a model and a method to facilitate decisions making and so can be use in conflicts resolution.
There is wisdom in the minority and by keeping everybody on board we facilitate the implementation of our decision.
We are field of energy, our opinions, actions,... are roles that we can share. The role is bigger than the person (many person expressing one role) and the person is bigger than the role (many role "play" by one person).
Each of us in his/her Iceberg (see model) is all. We are just not conscious of it. By lowering our water line we tap into more wisdom.
Deep democracy is about gathering the diversity, adding the wisdom of the minority to the decision of the majority and so concluding with a full agreement. (see method)
Using the Iceberg concept of Freud, a person's actions/decisions are lead by a small part of conscious (above water line) and lot of unconsciousness (below water line).
It is the same for a group, with some unawareness at the water line. Cause some information might be known by some of the participants. But not in the formal group consciousness.
When a group can not reach a rational decision it is link to emotional issues which are under the water line. Going into argumentation or emptying our quiver lead to some learnings (grain of truth) which will help to have more consciousness and so take a better decision, reach an agreement.
If the emotional issues are not addressed, if the minority is not heard. Some fishes (unconscious group issues/taboo subjects...) might develop and disturb the decision process.
A non-heard minority also will develop terrorist actions (sabotage) from some small jokes to the war or withdraw. Different steps exist between like gossips and strikes for instance.
'I will here develop the four first steps, for rational decision. Some training are required to facilitate the further steps to go into argument or conflict.'
'For instance Mary, Judith, John, Harry and Peter'
It is about hearing what is possible, not making a vote or commenting but mainly about voicing what is in the room. For instance, what do you want to do this afternoon.
It is actually about the non-conventional/expected propositions. The might be some minority who did feel safe enough, so encouraging it the speak is an important second step. For instance
It is important to not let a minority stuck with its proposition. Recognizing some wisdom in it and sharing part of the feeling help to get some fluidity. It is considered like one of the most important step to prevent that people to become over defensive and unable to recognize the own part in the other's opinion/stand. For instance
Step one and two have brought propositions. It is time to see where the majority stand. One person, one vote... Which proposition do you support. If a majority is reach, that will be the decision... Let's so focus on the minority, get it on board by adding its wisdom. Conclude the process with a final vote that should please everybody. For instance So the different propositions are:
Judith votes for swimming Harry votes for biking Mary and John for films and relaxing Peter for the homework
There is a small majority for films and relaxing... Let's see what need the others to come along...
So the adapted proposition become...
Spend a relax afternoon, watching action films, Peter and Judith will be on their own.
A vote is made, Judith and Harry seem to hesitate...
The new proposition is...
Spend a relax afternoon, watching action films, Peter will be on his own. Before starting we will bring the television outside and some of us will bike to get some food.
Everybody agreed.
| License | CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
|---|---|
| Cite as | Olivier C (2009–2025). "Deep-democracy". Appropedia. Retrieved September 30, 2026. |