In the field of Democracy Innovations mini-publics play an important role. This is where a small group of citizens meet to help the whole system of people think through important issues. Most of these are "Deliberative Councils" like The "Citizens Assembly" (or "People's Assembly"), the "Citizens Jury" or "Deliberative Polling". In particular the Citizens Assembly is gaining great momentum throughout the world in "democracies," being used to spark better policy decisions. The "Wisdom Council Process" is a mini public and seems similar to these deliberative mini-publics. But no. It is quite different. One is about improving the current System. The other is about transforming the System as the chart below illustrates.
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1) Comparing the Citizens Assembly and the Wisdom Council Process
In Sum |
Citizens Assemblies are deliberative democracy interventions, aimed at improving the decision-making within a democratic-republic system. This social innovation involves citizens more directly in identifying which option best suits the public will and influences legislators in their policymaking. |
The Wisdom Council Process can be established to improve decision-making within the System, but is primarily aimed at sparking a new System—i.e. Wise Democracy. At first it sets up a powerful voice of the "Public Interest" within a competition of Special Interests. But in time all citizens are facilitated to come together as a wise and responsible We the People. |
What is it? |
A large mini-public, where 50-200 random people meet for an extended period of time to learn about a chosen issue, deliberate options, vote, and make recommendations to those in charge. This group is given a well-defined problem, unbiased information, and a set of possible options. A moderator helps participants weigh the options in small groups, vote, and present the final recommendations. |
An ongoing series of mini-publics (Wisdom Councils). Each Council is formed with a new group of 8-16 randomly selected people who meet for about two days. Dynamic Facilitation is used so the group can address "Monster Problems," ill-defined, impossible-seeming issues, and co-determine unified conclusions. Each Wisdom Council presents its shared perspective to the public, not as a recommendation, but as a reflection of what we "all" are saying, stimulating an ongoing creative, We the People conversation. |
What's the purpose? |
To make better policy by helping citizens become better informed, more deliberative, and more unified. Then, the result is presented to decision-makers and to the public. Ideally, the process generates a focus on the public interest and diminishes the power of special interests. |
To create breakthrough progress on society's most impossible-seeming problems by facilitating a new ongoing "We the People" conversation into being, thereby transforming the System from whatever we have to "Wise Democracy. This process offers a new System of collective thinking and action where "We the People" (all of us) assume ultimate responsibility.. |
Who is the audience for the mini-public? |
… Decision-makers. Recommendations are provided to elected leaders and policy makers. |
… The general public. The process facilitates all to get involved in the ongoing "We the People" conversation where shared perspectives evolve. |
Who sets this up? |
Usually the government. This provides funding for what can be an expensive process. And assures that elected officials will hear. |
..The Wisdom Council Process is best convened by a well funded, well-meaning, non-partisan, non-governmental group. |
What kind of thinking? |
Deliberation. The aim is to help people and representatives become well informed, unbiased, unemotional, and rational in assessing the situation, weighing the options and voting in the public interest. |
Choice-creating. The aim is for people to address the biggest problems in a way that is heartfelt, creative and collaborative, where they reach unified perspectives on what's going on, what's needed and how best to proceed. |
What are the results? |
A public recommendation on the best policy option, where Special interests have a new competitor, the Public Interest. Also, there is more civic involvement, better education on the issue, more rational thinking, better decision-making, less money-in-politics, more trust in government, etc. |
New clarity and progress on Monster issues, both through policy and other measures, a new level of consciousness and thinking capability, and ultimately a new System of governance: Wise Democracy. Citizens gain a new level of involvement and empowerment in an ongoing We the People conversation. |
Who is the primary audience? |
Decision-makers. This is a way citizens can provide responsible direction and support to well-intentioned decision-makers; to limit the power of special interests; and to help the general public accept change. |
The general public. Each Wisdom Council provides a reflection of what we are all thinking and feeling. This sparks a new kind of creative, collaborative public conversation, which seeks a unified perspective of what’s best for all. |
Who is the facilitator? |
A neutral, well-informed moderator guides people on a step-by-step journey to good decision-making, which may include dialogue, analysis, discussions, deliberation, and voting. |
Someone skilled in Dynamic Facilitation. This is the magic sauce, a way to reliably evoke the spirit of "choice-creating”. Ongoing Wisdom Councils facilitate a whole-system conversation. |
Example of use ... |
In 2004 in British Columbia, 153 random citizens met monthly over a year to investigate how best to hold elections. Different options were presented to the Citizens Assembly and after careful deliberations a vote was ultimately taken. 146 to 7 the Citizens Assembly recommended that a “single transferable vote” (i.e. ranked order voting) system be adopted. Then there was a public referendum on the issue, which required 60% of the vote. Despite overwhelming support within the Assembly, the media treated the issue with false equivalency. There was not enough support for the action to pass.. |
Mauthausen example ... Near Mauthausen, Austria, are the ruins of a large NAZI concentration camp. Many locals were glad it was falling down and wanted it to be forgotten—but three Wisdom Councils were convened. Young people especially were exclaiming, “We are finally talking about this!” and “Now the healing can begin.” The results included a unified position that “we need to protect this memorial” and “for it to become a Center for Human Rights education.” From this abbreviated Wisdom Council process the three local communities established bi-annual Human Rights conferences held at the War memorial. |
How might this be used to address global issues like climate change? |
Citizens Assemblies have been used at local, national and global levels on the issue of climate change. This builds interest, knowledge and momentum for policy measures. But there are no official global "decision-makers" to act on recommendations. |
A few people with adequate resources can initiate a global Wisdom Council Process. See "The ToBe Project--global." It's just a matter of facilitating “one ongoing global choice-creating conversation” where all the people get involved, face the issue and come to shared perspectives. Here is a way to set up wise stewardship for the biosphere. |
2) In the short video below the Wisdom Council Process is referred to as the Bürgerräte (or "Citizens Council") vs. the Citizens Assembly.
Other resources
- Episode #34 of “Facilitating Public Deliberations”, where Jim Rough is interviewed by Dr. Lyn Carson, Director of Research at the New Democracy Foundation in Australia. Jim describes how the Wisdom Council Process is distinct from "Deliberative Democracy".
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