Sociocracy is a method of decision-making by consent and an organizational model, suitable for groups, organisations and institutions. It is an integrated methodology that is gaining ground both in organisation and management studies and in its practical application in organisations in Central and Northern Europe. It offers a structure that allows the flow of information and free access to it, as well as the equal participation of all members of a group in the realisation of the common goal.
The Municipality of Thermi has chosen this organizational structure and the decision-making by consent model for the Youth Council, seeking the representation of young people from every Community in the Municipality and an overall increased and meaningful participation of young people in it. This choice has made the Youth Council the first relevant project in Europe to apply the Sociocratic method, which gives the Youth Council particular importance at European level.
The benefits of the Sociocratic Circular Method:
Inclusion: all & all have a voice, are heard and participate
Culture of dialogue & argument-based opinions
Consent instead of majority, there are no 'winners' & 'losers'!
Transparency, access to information
Abolition of hierarchies & horizontal, participatory processes
Dynamic process that adapts to the facts, it is an ongoing process...
Organisational Structure
The organisational structure borrows elements of Neighbourocracy or Neighbourhood Parliaments, which started with great success in India and are slowly spreading to various countries in Europe. These elements in the case of the Council translate into: -emphasis on the neighbourhood-Community level of the Municipality -a single link (one representative from each Local Community of the Municipality) in the General Circle of the Youth Council of the Municipality of Thermi. This model can absorb as many people as wish to participate in the Youth Council and has no numerical limitation. The training of the Council members in Sociocracy makes the project at the same time a laboratory of democracy and active citizenship.