RCS Posts governance including: all democracy is participatory and look at a political meeting.
Below find hints on how to recognize a democratic meeting. Its okay to some more about participate in one.
As you look them over you may find it useful to keep in mind that all democracy is participatory. Each democratic meeting ought to be a powerful learning experience for one who has eyes used to see and ears used to hear. You may find that you are learning some rules that generally make meetings more effective for most participants.
Other happenings at a meeting, democratic or not:
~ Politics may be being practiced.
~ Some may be consciously practicing dialogue skills, methods, and techniques.
~ Some are finding that their respect and courtesy are good for them and theirs.
~ Others may be increasing their understanding of the vocabulary of the business at hand.
OK, on to the hints.
A meeting is likely to be democratic when it is:
~ of, by, and for its participants.
~ as free as possible from outside powers.
~ autonomous.
~ held in a safe place. An attribute of a safe place is that it is neutral.
~ designed and redesigned to meet the needs of participants.
~ better when participants realize that it is an important listening experience.
~ designed to enhance the equality of participants, each and every participant.
~ better when leadership roles are kept to a minimum and are of wide participation. Take turns.
~ a "teach-in" and a learning experience. A chance to learn the nature of another's point of view.
~ often a time more for understanding and less for decisions.
~ less authoritarian and hierarchical and more horizontal, and egalitarian.
~ a time for thinking together.
~ a time when your your comments and communications are best addressed to the group as a whole.
~ time to practice good manners and honesty.
~ an opportunity to observe the nature of the effectiveness of participatory democracy.
These hints are not about an arrival, but rather about an intended direction.
We have more to learn.
RCS