Sociocracy and Martian Settlement - Scientific Government On Mars?

Scott G. Beach · 2002-10-23 19:25:06

In a previous message, I suggested that Martian settlements might be organized like the Ecovillage of Ithaca, which is located in the state of New York. I have discovered that the EcoVillage of Loudoun County, Virginia, has a governance system called "sociocracy." That village's website presents the following description of sociocracy.

"EcoVillage of Loudoun County, VA uses a decision-making system called sociocracy to set policies and rules efficiently while respecting each other. Sociocracy originated in The Netherlands. Originally envisioned in 1945 by Kees Boeke, a Dutch educator and pacifist, as a way to adapt Quaker egalitarian principles to secular organizations, sociocracy allows us to give and receive effective leadership while remaining peers.

"Gerard Endenburg, a pupil of Kees Boeke, developed Boeke's vision into a body of well-tested procedures and practical principles. After World War II, Gerard Endenburg's parents (socialists before the war), set up their own (successful) company to try out their advanced ideas. Gerard trained as an electrical engineer, gained expertise in cybernetics (the new science of steering and control), and worked briefly for Phillips Electronics, designing a flat speaker that is still used in small electronic equipment today. Then his father challenged him to manage a small, failing business he had purchased. In less than a year Gerard had made the business profitable and merged it with his father's company. In the late 1960?s, Gerard's father retired, and Gerard became manager of Endenburg Electrotechniek with the mandate to run it both as a profitable business and as a real time laboratory for testing innovative management ideas. Sociocracy is a product of that experience.

"Today, Gerard has retired from day-to-day management of Endenburg Electrotechniek to devote his time to running the Sociocratisch Centrum, a consulting business that assists a wide variety of companies and organizations (including cohousing communities) to implement sociocratic structures. Gerard is also a professor at the Economic Science and Industry Department of the University of Maastricht where sociocracy is part of the curriculum and academic practice."

Continued at (click here and then on "Governance")

Webster's Third New International Dictionary defines sociocracy as "(1) a theoretical form of government in which society as a whole has sovereign rights, (2) the application of scientifically determined principles promoting the interests of society as a whole."

Should Martian governance systems be based on "scientifically determined principles"?

Scott

Auqakah · 2002-12-26 13:28:05

Well... I don't think so.

Any government must be based on socially determined principles, not scientific ones. Science just doesn't fit with politics; just say the word in a room full of scientists of many different disciplines, and measure the majority-reaction. That's actually a contradiction - just think of 'lab politics', and other phrases - but I digress.

The best form of government is the multi-layered one, with a mix of elected and non-elected (but not static) members; probably the best example of that was in the utterly brilliant Blue Mars.

I say we take the constitution from that book, use it, and be done with it. (Well, actually, from the section which was devoted to it in The Martians, by the same authour - who I surely don't have to name ).

Cobra Commander · 2002-12-27 18:32:23

I say we take the constitution from that book, use it, and be done with it.

It's been awhile since I read "Blue Mars" and "The Martians", but I do recall having several problems with that constitution. I know I'm not alone in this, anyone who has objections please chime in while I re-read the relevant sections of the books.
That constitution, while certainly making some good points, is largely based on trendy, unproven and unrealistic leftist politics. It has merit, but it needs an overhaul.

Auqakah · 2002-12-27 18:37:58

Naturally, not all of it would be workable. But the ideals behind it are correct, at least.

Cobra Commander · 2002-12-27 18:41:26

Naturally, not all of it would be workable. But the ideals behind it are correct, at least.

I am in agreement about the ideals, except for that constitution's "no weapons" clause.

While the ideals are noble, we need to make sure our ideals can result in a functional system that actually furthers those ideals. The Soviet Union was founded on well-meaning principles, but the results were horrendous.

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#1 2002-10-23 19:25:06

Re: Sociocracy and Martian Settlement - Scientific Government On Mars?

#2 2002-12-26 13:28:05

Re: Sociocracy and Martian Settlement - Scientific Government On Mars?

#3 2002-12-27 18:32:23

Re: Sociocracy and Martian Settlement - Scientific Government On Mars?

#4 2002-12-27 18:37:58

Re: Sociocracy and Martian Settlement - Scientific Government On Mars?

#5 2002-12-27 18:41:26

Re: Sociocracy and Martian Settlement - Scientific Government On Mars?

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