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SOME KEY CONCEPTS

A WISE DEMOCRACY PATTERN LANGUAGE is a set of things to keep in mind while developing a wisely self-managed activity, group, organization, community, network, or society.

A PATTERN is a design element or principle that promotes vitality and wholesomeness in a specific realm of human activity and that can show up in many different forms. For more on this definition see link.

A PATTERN LANGUAGE is an interrelated set of such patterns created to help people working in its specific domain to contribute in life-serving ways. For more on this definition see link.

DEMOCRACY is self-governance, especially collective decision-making and action of, by and for those affected or “the people” generally. For more on this definition see link.

A WISE DEMOCRACY is a form of participatory self-governance that routinely creates and implements wise guidance in its public affairs. For more on this definition see link.

COLLECTIVE WISDOM is ongoing collective responsiveness to shared challenges and opportunities that takes into account what needs to be taken into account for long-term broad benefit. For more on this definition go to link.

Different Portals into
Wise Democracy Theory and
Its Pattern Language


To Explore 3D Wise Democracy Theory

3D Wise Democracy theory considers how power, participation and wisdom manifest – and can be increased and integrated – in democratic systems. Today power is seldom very participatory or wise, participation is limited and relatively powerless, and wisdom is isolated and has little impact on public affairs. We can and must change these fatal shortcomings. To read more, click here.

To Scan Over the Patterns

If you’d just like to scan over the pattern names to get a sense of what this “pattern language” covers, visit the alphabetical list “Patterns by Name”.  (If that is too much you can burrow into the side of the whole pattern language using “The Starter List” of six patterns.)

To View the Patterns Put in Context

If you’d like to see the patterns sorted into a framework or context that makes sense of the whole thing, check out the Patterns by Category… the Patterns Located in the 3D Wise Democracy Venn Diagram… and/or Challenges this Pattern Language Seeks to Address.

To Explore the Illustrated Pattern Cards

Many people enjoy exploring the patterns in their illustrated form which also has a brief description of each pattern. We have created a set of illustrated pattern cards which you can download (LINK) or scan through (SLIDE SHOW).

To Explore the Use of the Wise Democracy Pattern Language to Evaluate and to Think Democratic Practices Through

Wise Democracy Pattern Language provides a set of categories with which to evaluate and think through democratic practices.  Such categories include: SORTITION, DIVERSITY, MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES, CITIZENS AND STAKEHOLDERS, and EXPERTS ON TAP, NOT ON TOP. An analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Civic Councils in Austria and Public Hearings in many democracies can be found here.

To Explore Pattern Languages (in General)

Christopher Alexander and a team of architects and designers created the first pattern language in the early 1970s.  Their ingenious approach to designing vibrant living systems inspired many admirers to create pattern languages for other human challenges. To learn more about the history of the original pattern language, click here. To learn more about pattern languages, click here.

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Image Credit: Boondocks – Pixabay