We the People: Consenting to a Deeper Democracy

by John Buck Jr

We the People describes a new method of governing ourselves that creates more inclusive and efficient organizations. The United States Declaration of Independence asserted that all human beings are created equally and endowed by society with the unquestionable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In practice, however, these rights are often limited to the majority, the rich, or the property owners. Sociocracy ensures these rights to everyone, and in the process, makes profit-making businesses more profitable and non-profit organizations more effective. Using consent and collaboration as a foundation for decision-making and communications, it builds a strong governance structure that extends from the mailroom to the boardroom and from the client to the funders. Using the new sciences of cybernetics, systems thinkng, and complexity theory, it creates organizations that are as powerful, self-organizing, and self-correcting as the natural world

Genres: Business, Nonfiction

284 pages, Paperback

First published May 23, 2007

Reviews

[Tanja Korvenmaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A profound handbook giving totally another point of view to organizational structures and decision making. Extremely good tips, processes and disciplines for a workplaces, governments and organizations aiming to empowering, collaborative and effective decisions.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Review of 2nd edition 2017]

I ran into this as basically the only english-language book on Sociocracy (an organizational method largely used in the Netherlands), published by the Sociocracy advocacy org and written by a Sociocracy management consultant. Ready to be skeptical.

The first of the book's excellent aspects: The case is made for an organizational and societal system that in short is democratic without majority rule and produces unanimous consent without requiring absolute full consensus. The critiques of majority rule as failing to deliver democracy's promise of equality and protection (instead producing plutocracy, party factionalism, and authoritarian rule by the current winning side) are as welcome today as they were 125 years ago. And the discussion of when Quaker-style full consensus works (and how this inspiration emphasizes the importance of individuals by requiring that you first respect all others in the group as valuable individuals) versus the proposed use of hierarchy and representation/delegation is clear.

The history of the concepts of sociocracy is neatly supported with appendices of primary essays by Lester Ward (early American Sociologist, 1893), Kees Boeke (Dutch Quaker, pacifist, and Montessori-inspired school founder, 1945), and Gerard Endenburg (student of Boeke and developer of Sociocracy in use today in companies, 1998).

While halfway through I began to worry that the management consulting background of the authors was going to keep things vague and aspirational, the final third delivers a very thorough guide to implementing and working with the principles in a sociocratic organization.

[Kathy Sipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Democracy is broken and I am praying for a new crop of leaders to learn how to bring sociocracy to the masses. Quickly! I thought people who liked this book may be interested to know that John Buck will now be offering a facilitator and professional certification program this fall. He is offering some free 2-hour webinars in August for people to get a taste of what is to come: https://bit.ly/sociocracytraining

[Vincent Vanderheeren · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an S3 (sociocracy 3.0) practitioner I highly recommend this book as it thoroughly deepened my understanding of Sociocracy.

[Agile Kindergarten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sociocratic governance evolved in the Netherlands post WWII in business and educational environments. Working from the concept of consensus, but focusing on the issues of management, the pioneers used scientific laws and real world metaphors to construct a highly flexible organization that invests authority and ownership in every member. Using "double-linked circles" for communication and maintaining logbooks for memory, these organizations are unique, successful, and realize the promise of democracy, self-governance & happiness. "We The People" is the first description of this methodology by native English speakers trained in the process.

[Jack Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sociocracy has overtaken democracy as the best (if still imperfect) form of governance available. In this book, the authors are adept at explaining the history and application of this proven process. "We the People" is a much-needed textbook to assist any organization that adopts sociocracy, and every organization should.

[William Cerf]

I first learned about Sociocracy from some folks involved in Nonviolent Communication. It is on the top of my list of books to read.

[Dsanford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still reading - this book claims to lay out a consensus based method of governing - even large companies and governmental organizations. Process is used in some companies in Europe.

[Elizabeth]

ILL
ref by Gavin
I'll bet this complements the Otto scharmer Book Theory U

[Josef Kreitmayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"the" sociocracy primer!

excellent book for developing structure and patterns for empty centred organizatons

[Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read what can be a paradigm changing concept.

[Emma Seibert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of good info!