Introduction to Consensus

By Beatrice Briggs

A practical guide to consensus decision-making, including clear instructions for facilitating the process

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: May 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9780989259507

Book preview

Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part of Introduction

to Consensus should be addressed to :

Beatrice Briggs, A.P. 160, Tepoztlan, Morelos, 62520 Mexico.

Tel: [phone] / Email: [e-mail]

©(1997) Copyright by Beatrice Briggs. All rights reserved.

Edition in Spanish, january 1998

Revised version, march 2000

Revised 2012 by Monica Krebs

A Spanish version of this manual, called Introducción al Proceso

de Consenso, is also available.

Graphic design: Alejandro Valdes Kuri

Cover illustration: Shutterstock.com

I wish to thank my teacher of consensus,

Caroline Estes, my first colleagues in this work,

Shari Leyshon, David Lillie,

and the members of the group

«Facilitation and Consensus»

for their support, dedication and love.

Introduction

Everywhere I go, I meet people committed to bringing about positive change. Many use the term consensus to describe the end state they seek, but few understand the underlying process needed to reach agreements that group members will support.

This text was written in the mid-1990’s to explain the principles and practices that characterize classic consensus as I was taught it by Caroline Estes and others in the bioregional movement in the US and Canada. When destiny took me to live in Mexico, the material was translated into Spanish.

Over the past 20 years I have taught consensus and facilitated consensus processes all over Latin America as well as in other parts of the world. Furthermore, I live in Huehuecoyotl, an ecovillage in the mountains of central Mexico, where we struggle –with varying degrees of success– to make decisions by consensus.

As director of the International Institute for Facilitation and Change (IIFAC), I have had the opportunity to work with many civil society organizations, government agencies, international NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and some companies in the private sector who want to work collaboratively with stakeholders but who, in reality, are unwilling or unable to make decisions by the consensus process described in this book.

To serve these clients, I have learned new ways to ethically engage people in the decisions that affect their lives, to listen and to respond constructively to what their publics are saying.

Recently the Occupy movement has sprung up around the world, drawing attention to the challenges of reaching decisions in participatory manner. Within the global communities movement, debate rages about how to make consensus work –or what decision process to use in its place. And so, the story goes on...

I have resisted the temptation to modify or add to this book. Instead, I offer it in its original form as a resource and reference point. And yes, I am still a believer in the power and sheer magic of consensus. Of course, consensus is not a panacea; it is not appropriate for every situation. But for those of us who aspire to a more just and sustainable world, consensus-seeking continues to be an integral part of the way forward.

Beatrice Briggs

Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico

November 2012

About the author

Beatrice Briggs began to facilitate and train groups in consensus processes in the ’ 90s in Chicago. She came to Mexico for the first time in 1995 to help with the organization of an international gathering of ecological activists. Three years later she moved to Mexico where she lives in a solar-powered house in the mountains outside of Tepoztlán, Mexico.

Beatrice’s international perspective has its origins in her experiences as a student at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Her capacity to understand and respect other cultures was deepened by her studies in the history of religions at the University of Chicago, where she received a Master´s degree in 1985.

Clients appreciate her ability to grasp their issues and propose solutions that are both innovative and practical. Colleagues admire her generosity in sharing ideas and experiences. Participants in the groups she facilitates are impressed by her patience and good humor –and inspired by her commitment to creating space for everyone to be heard.

To learn more about her constantly evolving ideas for working effectively with change oriented groups, visit www.iifac.org where you will find other