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Interesting history -- but consensus building is really just another name for politics. Anyone who has participated in an organized protest can tell you that t
by exelius 11y ago
Interesting history -- but consensus building is really just another name for politics.
Anyone who has participated in an organized protest can tell you that they're chaotic, and when things start to organize, it's usually because one person or faction takes control and starts barking orders. Other factions emerge with other demands, and usually consensus is reached through "back room" dealing.
"Consensus building" as a term has become synonymous with the practice of approaching all members of the group ahead of a decision event, obtaining their approval and input on a plan, and giving them just enough of what they want to get them to agree to it. But it's not about being inclusive -- sometimes the consensus is "Yeah, we all agree on this but John doesn't, so we'll all agree to disagree with him but we're doing it our way."
- frandroid 11y agoThat is not what consensus is. That's what majority politics is. Two groups that come to agreement through their leadership is not consensus, it's leadership-based agreements. There can be dissension within each of the groups. So you don't have consensus.
- exelius 11y agoAny organization that becomes sufficiently large has leaders to improve efficiency.
- baddox 11y ago> Interesting history -- but consensus building is really just another name for politics. How so? I would say that politics is the day-to-day actions of governing a country or region. While some political systems are ostensibly based on consensus or at least majority preference, others are not. In fact, I would say that political action becomes less relevant as consensus grows.