The "Wisdom Council Process" first arose on the night of May 9th 1993 ... It was a description of how to facilitate a transformation of U.S. national society, which is gradually proving itself to work through many experiments and applications in different settings. a deep deep quality of thinking and transformational potential that go beyond the usual "Citizen Councils" or "People's Councils" or "Deliberative Councils" aimed at improving government. All the done right, this process can be applied globally or nationally to transform the underlying System, so we can become sustainable. This strategy is similar to the "Wisdom Councils" of aboriginal societies, where heartfelt sharing leads to unity and enhanced community.
The name "Citizens Council" is also used to indicate the Wisdom Council Process when it is used to improve the system, not transform it. Governments use the Citizens Council to educate citizens, build participation, clarify the public will, generate collaboration among legislators and make better policy. Mostly so far, this use of the Wisdom Council Process is paramount. In particular, the Office of Future Related Issues in Vorarlberg Austria (under the direction of Dr. Manfred Hellrigl and Michael Lederer) has pioneered its use. And generated many benefits for the government and citizens. Originally, the term "Wisdom Council" was translated into German as "Bürgerat" (which is "Citizens Council" in English). And this process has been developed further since 2006. Now many other governments in Austria and Germany are adopting the "Citizens Council" as their normal way of operation.
The successful use of Citizens Councils has built credibility for the Wisdom Council Process in general, showing that the process works. That it can work at any scale ... community, city, state, nation, or world. And that it is a viable way to overcome many impossible-seeming problems in society.
Because the process is used by governments, many people have come to think of the "Citizens Council" as being one more form of "Deliberative Council." But that's not true. See the contrast with "Deliberative Councils". Yes, this process can be used by governments instead of a Citizens Deliberative Council to achieve more at less cost. It can be used in that more limited way. But we want to keep the name "Wisdom Council Process" sacrosanct because this name more accurately reflects the immense potential of the process, especially for global and national transformation.
The name "Citizens Council" is also used to indicate the Wisdom Council Process when it is used to improve the system, not transform it. Governments use the Citizens Council to educate citizens, build participation, clarify the public will, generate collaboration among legislators and make better policy. Mostly so far, this use of the Wisdom Council Process is paramount. In particular, the Office of Future Related Issues in Vorarlberg Austria (under the direction of Dr. Manfred Hellrigl and Michael Lederer) has pioneered its use. And generated many benefits for the government and citizens. Originally, the term "Wisdom Council" was translated into German as "Bürgerat" (which is "Citizens Council" in English). And this process has been developed further since 2006. Now many other governments in Austria and Germany are adopting the "Citizens Council" as their normal way of operation.
The successful use of Citizens Councils has built credibility for the Wisdom Council Process in general, showing that the process works. That it can work at any scale ... community, city, state, nation, or world. And that it is a viable way to overcome many impossible-seeming problems in society.
Because the process is used by governments, many people have come to think of the "Citizens Council" as being one more form of "Deliberative Council." But that's not true. See the contrast with "Deliberative Councils". Yes, this process can be used by governments instead of a Citizens Deliberative Council to achieve more at less cost. It can be used in that more limited way. But we want to keep the name "Wisdom Council Process" sacrosanct because this name more accurately reflects the immense potential of the process, especially for global and national transformation.
12 principles ... The Wisdom Council Process
- Ordinary citizens can set this in motion. It need not be a government. The conveners randomly select citizens, arrange the Dynamic Facilitation and the presentation. Key is that others pay attention. Certainly the "officially designated leaders" can generate this attention more readily, but it's not essential.
- Identify the "community" or "system of people" ... This community might be national, global or local, any system of people seeking to be democratic. Once the conveners identify the system, then a specific pool of people can be determined from which to draw a random selection of people, e.g. the registered voters of the city,
- Gather 8 to 16 randomly selected Wisdom Council members ... Once the pool is identified a random number generator is used. Ideally, the first "twelve" selected would choose to come. The conveners may offer babysitting, a stipend, transportation, etc. to make it easier for those chosen. With random sampling that is pure, then different sub-populations are included in their exact proportions over time.
- Provide a HOT ISSUE to the Wisdom Council (or the Wisdom Council can choose its own). This issue might be selected by a contest, something that people care deeply about. It's OK if the issue is Ill-defined, complex, or impossible-to-solve, like climate change, the influx of refugees, or money in politics. Using Dynamic Facilitation the Wisdom Council will face into the heart of the matter and create new clarity about the issue, one which resonates throughout the community.
- Use Dynamic Facilitation to assure the spirit of choice-creating. Key for this to work is the quality of thinking within each Wisdom Council. "We the People" arises when the spirit of talking is choice-creating rather than decision-making or problem-solving. This can be reliably established using Dynamic Facilitation. Each person can just act naturally and need not follow any guidelines. But through DF, all find themselves facing the heart of the issue collaboratively in a way that yields shifts and breakthroughs.
- Assure time for a closure so the Wisdom Council reaches unity ... Using Dynamic Facilitation the group will make its progress through shifts and breakthroughs, which can be gathered into a shared story.
- Invite the community to hear the Wisdom Council present its story and conclusions ... This presentation goes to the people primarily, normally not to "decision-makers." This is NOT about making "recommendations." It's meant spark unity around shared conclusions ... "We the People".
- Involve the WHOLE COMMUNITY. Extra effort may be needed to involve all aspects of the citizenry to come to the presentations. And to talk with one another in follow up conversations ... in churches, taverns, community halls, etc.
- Generate RESONANCE in the community conversation, also in the spirit of choice-creating. People who hear the story of the Wisdom Council's progress sense the form of conversation. It's NOT about agreeing or disagreeing, but continuing the story forward, seeking what's best for all.
- Help the community enhance its POWER. it helps when people can recognize what's going on. One question, for instance, might be ... "From hearing the Wisdom Council and your conversations in small groups, to what extent do you think the viewpoint of the Wisdom Council reflects the Public Interest? Would another random group determine a similar result?
- Provide SUPPORT FOR ACTION. The Wisdom Council disbands. However, a few weeks after the Wisdom Council presents, it's possible to bring together governmental agencies and civic organizations in a meeting, what we call a "Responder's Meeting." Now they are in a new situation because everyone knows what is the voice of the people.
- Structure the Wisdom Council process to occur regularly. Ideally this process would be chartered into being by "the People," like as a Constitutional Amendment. But usually it must first be set in motion by conveners. Then every six months, for example, the local government, the schools, the hospital, the library , etc. can get involved and propose issues to be addressed.
Other names and applications
1) Bürgerräte ...is the name of the Wisdom Councils given to the process in Austria and Germany, where governments are the sponsor and the process is used to enlist citizen involvement. The term means "citizen councils" or "civic councils" when translated back into English.
2) Creative Insight Councils ... This is the term we reserve for Wisdom Council experiments, when some of the basic principles are dropped
2) Creative Insight Councils ... This is the term we reserve for Wisdom Council experiments, when some of the basic principles are dropped