Quick guide on group dynamics in people's assemblies

This text has been prepared by the Commission for Group Dynamics in Assemblies of the
Puerta del Sol Protest Camp (Madrid). t is based on different texts and summaries !hich
reached consensus in the internal Assemblies of this Commission (and !hich !ill be made
a"ailable on the official !ebs of the #$th May Mo"ement) and from the experiences %ained in
the General Assemblies held in this Protest Camp up until &#st May '(##.
The purpose of this )uic* Guide is to facilitate and encoura%e the de"elopment of the different
Popular Assemblies !hich ha"e been created since the be%innin% of the #$th May Mo"ement.
This )uic* Guide !ill be periodically re"ised and updated. +n no account is it to be considered
a closed model !hich cannot be adapted throu%h consensus by any %i"en Assembly. ,rom the
Commission for Group Dynamics in Assemblies of the Puerta del Sol Protest Camp !e in"ite
our friends and comrades to attend and ta*e part in the meetin%s- !or* plans and internal
Assemblies of this Commission- !hich are open to anyone !ho !ants to come to them and
acti"ely participate in maintainin%- perfectin% and de"elopin% them.
Open Reflection on Collective Thinking
.hile !e !ould li*e to share our impressions so far- !e encoura%e you to continue to reflect on
and debate these impressions as !e feel that Collecti"e Thin*in% is an essential part of our
mo"ement.
To our understandin%- Collecti"e Thin*in% is diametrically opposed to the *ind of thin*in%
propounded by the present system. This ma*es it difficult to assimilate and apply. Time is
needed- as it in"ol"es a lon% process. .hen faced !ith a decision- the normal response of t!o
people !ith differin% opinions tends to be confrontational. They each defend their opinions !ith
the aim of con"incin% their opponent- until their opinion has !on or- at most- a compromise has
been reached.
The aim of Collecti"e Thin*in%- on the other hand- is to construct. That is to say- t!o people !ith
differin% ideas !or* to%ether to build somethin% ne!. The onus is therefore not on my idea or
yours/ rather it is the notion that t!o ideas to%ether !ill produce somethin% ne!- somethin% that
neither of us had en"isa%ed beforehand. This focus re0uires of us that !e acti"ely listen- rather
than merely be preoccupied !ith preparin% our response.
Collecti"e Thin*in% is born !hen !e understand that all opinions- be these opinions our o!n or
others1- need to be considered !hen %eneratin% consensus and that an idea- once it has been
constructed indirectly- can transform us.
Do not be discoura%ed2 !e are learnin%/ !e1ll %et there2 all that1s needed is time.
>>THE !"#C"
.hat is a People3s Assembly4 t is a participatory decision5ma*in% body !hich !or*s to!ards
consensus. The Assembly loo*s for the best ar%uments to ta*e a decision that reflects e"ery
opinion 6 not positions at odds !ith each other as !hat happens !hen "otes are ta*en. t must
be pacific- respectin% all opinions2 pre7udice and ideolo%y must left at home. An Assembly
should not be centred around an ideolo%ical discourse/ instead it should deal !ith practical
0uestions2 .hat do !e need4 8o! can !e %et it4 The Assembly is based on free association 6
if you are not in a%reement !ith !hat has been decided- you are not obli%ed to carry it out.
9"ery person is free to do !hat they !ish 6 the Assembly tries to produce collecti"e intelli%ence-
and shared lines of thou%ht and action. t encoura%es dialo%ue and %ettin% to *no! one another.
.hat types of Assembly ha"e !e used so far4 .or*in% Group Assemblies- Commission
Assemblies- :ocal Assemblies (in nei%hbourhoods- "illa%es and to!ns)- General Assemblies of
the Puerta de Sol Protest Camp and General Assemblies of Madrid (Puerta de Sol plus
nei%hbourhoods- "illa%es and to!ns). These latter (General) Assemblies are the final
deliberati"e or decidin% bodies from !hich the consensuses are decided in order to articulate
the different lines of ;oint Action for the #$th May Mo"ement in each city.
.hat is Consensus4 t is the !ay that the assemblies ma*e a final decision o"er each specific
proposal. Consensus is reached !hen there is no outri%ht opposition in the assembly a%ainst
the proposal. The follo!in% format must be applied to each proposal2 #) .hat is bein%
proposed4 ') .hy is it bein% proposed4 &) 8o! can !e carry out the Proposal if a consensus is
reached4 To sum up2 .hat4 .hy4 8o!4
.hat is Direct Consensus4 A Consensus that is directly reached without opinions a%ainst it2
Proposal < Consensus.
.hat is ndirect Consensus4 A Consensus that is reached after debatin% different opinions on a
proposal !hich did not reach a Direct Consensus. The follo!in% steps are ta*en to reach an
ndirect Consensus2 #) .hat4 .hy4 8o!4 ') After the moderator as*s 3Are there any stron%ly
opposed opinions43- and if there are- a 0ueue for floor time is prepared. The ,loor Time Team
and Coordinator(s) open the first round of debate. Three ar%uments for and three ar%uments
a%ainst are allo!ed. After that- the Assembly is as*ed to sho! its opinion a%ain throu%h
Gestures. f consensus is still not reached !hen as*in% if there are opinions a%ainst- the
Moderator !ill as* the Assembly to discuss the issue for three to fi"e minutes in small %roups
!here they are sittin%. After this small brea* a second round of inter"entions consistin% of
Proposals for Consensus ta*es place. f a consensus is still not reached after these t!o rounds-
the follo!in% ta*es place2 a) f the Proposal comes from a Commission or .or*in% Group- it is
returned in order to be re!or*ed- b) f the Proposal comes from an indi"idual- it !ill be ta*en to
the competent Commission or .or*in% Group so it can reach a consensus on its usefulness
and present a re!or*ed "ersion of it in the next Assembly- !here it !ill once a%ain %o throu%h
the same procedure. And so on until a =eal Consensus is reached.
>> THE RO$E" !%& '(%CT#O%" #%)O$)E& #% ! *!"" !""E*$+,
t is "ital to remember to control our %estures and body lan%ua%e so that our o!n emotions do
not confuse matters- and to remember also that a smile is hu%ely effecti"e in moments of
tension or in an apparent dead5end. 8aste and tiredness are the enemies of consensus.
:+GSTCS T9AM2 A minimum of three people !ho are responsible for the e0uipment of an
Assembly. They dra! a Map of the Site on the site itself- or%anisin% spaces and the corridors
that run throu%h these spaces- they are in char%e of the me%aphone- they pro"ide seatin% for
people !ith disabilities or !ho are "ery tired- they pro"ide !ater and shade (parasols>umbrellas)
if temperatures are hi%h or the sunshine is direct- etc.
ASS9M?:@ PA=TCPAATS2 This includes all those people participatin% in an Assembly-
includin% the Group Dynamics Teams and members of Commissions or .or*in% Groups.
Participants are the life blood and the raison d3Btre of an Assembly. .e are all responsible for
runnin% and buildin% the Assembly. +ur functions are2 listenin% to the different spea*ers/
participatin% in matters that re0uire debate in rounds of floor time- and ma*in% indi"idual
proposals or sub7ecti"e e"aluations (ha"in% re0uested the ,loor5Time Team to do so) durin% the
Any +ther ?usiness round (normally near the end of each Assembly).
,:++= TM9 T9AM2 T!o to four people (dependin% on the siCe of the Assembly) positioned
amon%st the participants and next to the corridors. They should !ear a distincti"e symbol in
order to be identifiable easily and carry a card !hich says DTE=AS ,+= T89 ,:++=F !hich
they lift abo"e their heads- particularly at the end of each inter"ention. Their main tas* is to note
do!n the names of the participants !ho !ant to ta*e a turn. .hen such a re0uest ta*es place-
they as* the participant2
#) s your inter"ention related to !hat is bein% discussed4 (=emind the participant of the issue
bein% discussed). ') s it a direct reply to somethin% that has been said4 &) f so-is it in
a%reement or disa%reement4 .ith this information the floor5time team member determines if the
inter"ention should be passed to the ,loor5Time Coordinator(s) or not. f the proposed
inter"ention bears no direct relationship to the issue at hand- the person1s name is noted so that
they may be called upon durin% the Any +ther ?usiness round. They !ill also tell the participant
about other debate forums (spea*ers3 corners- !or*in% %roupsG). Members of this team should
be conciliatory- positi"e- neutral and patient. They are also responsible for notin% any re0uest
from the moderator(s) to be relie"ed. They should try and in"ol"e people !ho ha"e not yet
inter"ened in the debate. A common error is to omit announcin% the end of the period for
re0uestin% floor time. The total amount of floor time should be limited usin% common sense in
order not to allo! each issue to dra% on indefinitely.
C++=DAAT+=(S) +, T89 ,:++=5TM9 T9AM2 T!o people- in close coordination !ith the
,loor5Time Team- !hose tas* is to or%anise the re0uests to ta*e the floor that are for!arded to
them by this team before passin% them on to the moderator(s). Should a heated debate be
under !ay- their role includes both selectin% spea*ers so that the same messa%e is not
repeated- as !ell as mediatin% bet!een people !ith similar ar%uments !ith the aim of
presentin% a unified proposal for debate. The coordinators are a filter 6 they do not e"aluati"e
the content of each inter"ention. n order to assure that the inter"entions are rele"ant- they
should remind spea*ers of the issue at hand and if this does not coincide !ith !hat the spea*er
!ants to share- direct them to other forums (spea*ers3 corners- !or*in% %roupsG). +nce the
inter"ention has been coordinated- the floor5time coordinator informs the facilitator !ho informs
the moderator so that they can call on the spea*er to inter"ene in the ri%ht order.
,AC:TATAG T9AM2 T!o or three people !ho bac* up the moderator. They are the
moderator3s D"oice of conscienceF. They are the only people in direct contact !ith the
moderators in order to help them maintain their concentration and impartiality. The ,acilitators
should be positioned around the moderation space. They help the moderator synthesise and
reformulate proposals in an ob7ecti"e and impartial !ay. They facilitate the flo! of information
bet!een DCoordinationF and the Moderator so that floor5time is fair and or%anised. They pre"ent
assembly participants from distractin% the moderator- help the moderator communicate !ith
people !ho find it difficult to spea* in public- ma*e the moderator a!are of any errors in their
"ocabulary or summaries- inform them of any last5minute announcements- help them stic* to
the a%enda- etc. n lar%e debates the fi%ure of a DDirect ,acilitatorF may be created in order to
e"en more closely help the moderator to follo! the norms of the Assembly.
An important !ay of helpin% the Assembly to run smoothly is to incorporate one or t!o people
!ho inter"ene !hen there are silences- o"er5heated discussions or serious di%ressions. Their
main role is to remind assembly participants of the importance of Collecti"e Thin*in%- Acti"e
:istenin% and the true meanin% of Consensus.
=+TATAG T9AM +, M+D9=AT+=S2 +ne or more people (!ho rotate if the Assembly is
lar%e or there is a lot of tension). This rotation is decided upon by the !hole team of moderators-
!ith the %reater %ood of the assembly in mind. The moderator can as* to be replaced. The
moderator should help the Assembly to run smoothly- should brin% to%ether the %eneral sense
of the Assembly rather than follo! a protocol- deally- this fi%ure should not need to exist.
(e"erybody should respect e"erybody) The moderator(s) are responsible for2 !elcomin% the
participants to the Assembly/explainin% the nature and !or*in%s of the Assembly/ presentin% the
%roup dynamic teams and their functions/ moderatin% positi"ely and conciliatin% distinct
positions !ithout ali%nin% themsel"es personally !ith any of these/ informin% the Assembly of
the positions for and a%ainst durin% the process of ndirect Consensus/ summarisin% each
inter"ention durin% the rounds of debate should it be needed/ and repeatin% the consensus as
recorded in the minutes. The moderator also %i"es "oice to %estures made should a spea*er not
ha"e noticed (it is recommended that assembly participants !ait for a spea*er to finish their turn
in order to express a%reement or disa%reement so as to a"oid s!ayin% the spea*er).
,urthermore- the moderator is responsible for ensurin% an atmosphere propitious to the
exchan%e of ideas and for establishin% a positi"e tone. Should the need arise they mi%ht also
release tension by remindin% participants of the "alue that any debate adds to the #$th May
Mo"ement and by moti"atin% participants in %eneral. The moderator can also be replaced "ia
consensus of the Assembly as a !hole. Anythin% spo*en off microphone should be relayed to
the Assembly as a !hole in order to foment transparency.
AT9=P=9T9= T9AM2 +ne or t!o people !ho translate oral inter"entions into si%n lan%ua%e
for the hard of hearin% and "ice "ersa. Their "ision should not be impeded by standin% in front of
them. f the members of this team are in direct sunli%ht- the :o%istics Team !ill assi%n t!o
people to shade them !ith parasols.
MAET9S T9AM2 T!o people responsible for notin% all inter"entions !hich do no ha"e a script.
n the case of consensus resolutions the minutes team can as* for any resolution to be repeated
!ord by !ord and subse0uently ratified by the Assembly. Aormally one team member !rites
do!n inter"entions by hand !hilst the other uses a computer in case !hat has been !ritten
needs to be cross5chec*ed. f the members of this team are in direct sunli%ht- the :o%istics
Team !ill assi%n t!o people to shade them !ith parasols. At the end of the Assembly- the
minutes ta*en by this team should be read out to a"oid any confusion.
-RO-O"!$ . THE -O"#T#O% O' THE /RO(- &+%!*#C" TE!* #% E!CH !""E*$+
:+GSTCS T9AM2 ts purpose is to prepare and or%anise the Assembly area before it ta*es
place in order to ma*e it more efficient and functional. The lo%istics person(s) are in char%e of
a%reein% on and mar*in% out the area (!ithin their possibilities) to%ether !ith the other teams.
The Moderators3 Area is a rectan%le mar*ed out !ith chal* (or coloured tape stuc* to the floor)
in front of the assembly area li*e a type of 3sta%e3. ?et!een this area and the assembly area the
,loor5Time Team is "isibly placed and spread out amon%st the participants. .ithin the
Moderators3 Area- the Moderator and the Spea*er (person !ho has the floor) !ill stand in the
middle- flan*ed by the nterpreter(s) and ,acilitator(s) !ho !ill normally be s0uattin% or sittin% on
the floor !hen not ta*in% part- and al!ays !ithin reach of the =otatin% Team of Moderators and
the ,loor Coordinator(s).
To one side of the Moderators3 Area sit the Spo*espeople of the Commissions and>or the
.or*in% Groups !ho !ill be inter"enin% in the different parts of the A%enda/ on the other side
an area !ill be pro"ided for the ,loor Coordinator(s) !ho !ill al!ays be !ithin reach of the
,acilitator(s) and as far as possible from the Minutes Team (!ho !ill al!ays sit near the
Moderators3 Area in order to be able to re0uest a repetition- summary or text that has been
presented) in order not to distract their attention from the con"ersations !hich ta*e place before
each turn to spea*- ma*in% their 7ob easier.
>>/E"T(RE" ("E& TO E0-RE"" CO**O% O-#%#O% O' THE !""E*$+
The follo!in% %estures ha"e been a%reed on in order to permit the expression of common
opinion durin% assemblies2
#) APP:AES9>AG=99M9AT2 Epraised- open hands mo"in% from side to side.
') DSAG=99M9AT2 Arms folded in cross abo"e the head.
&) DT8AT 8AS A:=9AD@ ?99A SADF>FG9T T+ T89 P+ATF2 As if re0uestin% a substitution in
sport- re"ol"in% upraised hands.
H) D@+E= AT9=I9AT+A S TAJAG EP T++ MEC8 TM9F2 Crossed arms. ,orearms come
to%ether and mo"e apart as if they !ere the hands of a cloc* so that palms touch abo"e head.
$) DD,,CE:T@ 89A=AG AT9=I9AT+AF2 Cupped hands to ears or hand mo"in% up and
do!n as if to indicate- Dturn the "olume upF.
t is ad"isable to remind participants of these si%ns at the be%innin% of each Assembly. t is also
ad"isable to inform participants that is more useful to display disa%reement once the person
spea*in% has finished in order not to condition their inter"ention- !hene"er possible.
>>OR!$ E0-RE""#O%" RECO**E%&E& 'OR *O&ER!TOR" !%& "-E!1ER"
.e use Positi"e Speech a"oidin% ne%ati"e statements !hich close the door to constructi"e
debate. t is a less a%%ressi"e and more conciliatory type of communication. t is useful to open
a debate !ith the points that unite before dealin% !ith the points that separate. 9xamples2
#) 3Don3t touch that do% or it !ill bite you3 could be phrased as 3?e careful !ith that do% because
it could bite you and neither of us !ould li*e that.3
') 3f !e don3t reach a consensus here all efforts !ill %o to !aste3 could be phrased as 3t3s
important !e reach a consensus in this point or !e could end up losin% stren%th as a %roup and
nobody !ants that to happen.3
.e use nclusi"e Speech !hich ma*es no %ender distinctions. t is clear that force of habit can
be hard to brea*- but it is con"enient that bet!een all of us !e mutually remind oursel"es to
remember this.
>>1E+" TO CRE!T#%/ &+%!*#C !/E%&!"
.hat is the A%enda of an Assembly4 .hat is it for4 The A%enda is a summary of the topics to
be discussed durin% an Assembly. ts function is to ma*e sure no important issue is left out- to
establish an order in the type of inter"entions and to ma*e it possible to calculate ho! much
time each part of the Assembly should ta*e. The a%enda is dra!n up by the Group Dynamics
Team and the Moderator of any assembly should be familiar !ith it before openin% an assembly
as it is a basic %uide to that assembly1s contents. The Group Dynamics Team does not ha"e
7urisdiction o"er the contents of the A%enda/ its members merely or%anise the issues to be
discussed as reflected in the consensus reached by the representati"es of all participatin%
commissions in preparatory meetin%s. The a%enda contains an outline of !hat issues are to be
discussed in the Assembly and as such should be read out loud at the be%innin% of the
Assembly so that the all present are a!are of !hat is %oin% to ta*e place. 9xperience !ill help
impro"e the desi%n and rele"ance of each Assembly a%enda. .e recommend settin% time limits
for each Assembly dependin% on the number of participants and the issues to be discussed- in
order to a"oid loss of concentration and unfruitful assemblies.
KKSchematic- practical example of an Assembly A%endaKK
#) .elcome and Positi"e Presentation. The Assembly is the effecti"e celebration of the po!er
of the people.
') Summary of the consensuses reached in the pre"ious Assembly and all outstandin% issues.
&) Presentation of the Group Dynamics Team for the Assembly in 0uestion. The roles of each of
its members.
H) 9xplanation of the concept DAssemblyF. .e do not D"oteF- !e reach consensus.
$) 9xplanation of the concept DConsensusF (direct and indirect). 9xplanation of the process used
to reach an indirect consensus.
L) 9xamples of ho! the mechanics of the ,loor5Time Team and ,acilitators durin% an
Assembly.
M) =eminder of the %estures used in an Assembly and su%%estions of ho! to express oneself
"erbally in concordance !ith the #$th May Mo"ement style- as appro"ed by the General
Assembly.
N) =eadin% the A%enda out loud.
O) The turn of the Commissions and .or* Groups without specific proposals for the Assembly-
only information !hich does not re0uire consensus. t is ad"isable that a spo*esperson from
each Commission or .or*in% Group attends the preparatory meetin% for the Assembly in order
to help or%anise the list of issues to be discussed.
#() The turn of the Commissions and .or*in% Groups with specific proposals for the Assembly.
f a direct consensus is not reached- the floor is opened to debate. =emember2 there should be
a maximum of t!o rounds of debate to defend each position (in %roups of three spea*ers)
and>or find a point of a%reement. f the debate becomes heated- a period of common reflection
can be opened and if after t!o rounds no consensus is reached the issue can be ad7ourned to
the follo!in% Assembly. +pinion < Debate < =esolution or Ad7ournment.
##) MP+=TAAT A+TC9S. Citations- %eneral interest information- latest ne!s- etc.
#') AA@ +T89= ?ESA9SS. Durin% this round- there is no opportunity for debate. The
information is not to be ratified at this point- rather ta*en up by the pertinent !or*in% %roup or
commission. mportant2 if it is necessary to cut short this round because of lac* of time or
tiredness- announce this and tell those !ho ha"e not had a chance to inter"ene in this round
that the sub7ects they !anted to mention !ill ha"e priority in the any5other5business round in the
next Assembly.
#&) Conclusions and notification of time and place of next Assembly.
#H) Messa%e of moti"ation and reminder of common purpose. Ao! is the time to use
memorable !ords- !hich may be in "erse- a piece of %ood ne!s- a hi%hly5char%ed 0uotation or
a short text- etc.
#$) Closure and ac*no!led%ements.
(P S8+=T M+TIATAG M9SSAG9. STAT9M9AT +, P=ACP:9. 9AC+E=AG9M9AT.)
!% O-E% &#"C(""#O% O% "O*E THEORET#C!$ CO%TE%T
2hat is hori3ontal organisation4
t is a type of social or%anisation !hich implies e0uality for e"eryone participatin% in a %roup or
society. There is no hierarchy and it is the opposite of "ertical or%anisation in !hich some
people ma*e decisions and others obey them.
The method used to ta*e decisions in a horiContally5or%anised %roup or society is throu%h
assemblies.
2hat is an !ssembly4
An Assembly is a %atherin% place !here people !ho ha"e a common purpose can meet on
e0ual footin%. t can be for2
K nformation2 the participants share information of mutual interest. They do not debate the
content of this information.
K =eflection2 to 7ointly thin* throu%h a sub7ect- situation or problem. nformation must be %i"en-
but there is no need to arri"e at an immediate decision.
K Decisions2 !hen the %roup must reach a 7oint conclusion or decision about a sub7ect it has
been in"ol"ed in. To reach this- the t!o pre"ious steps (ha"in% information and reflectin% on it)
must ha"e been ta*en in order to build a consensus.
2hat do 5e understand by consensus4
A consensus is a collecti"e construction of a solution to or a decision on a common interest.
t is not dra!in% up a proposal !hich includes each and e"ery indi"idual need- but is rather a the
synthesis of all the indi"idual opinions !hich %i"e shape to the best !ay to achie"e reach the
%roup3s common interest.
t implies2
K ?ein% "ery clear about the %roup3s common interest.
K ?ein% a!are that anythin% collecti"e is the sum of all the indi"idual *no!led%e and input/ to
this end- each indi"idual3s opinions must ha"e been be communicated- listened to and
respected.
K =ealisin% that it QconsensusR is a commonly constructed end- rather than a function in itself.
K=ealisin% that consensus in"ol"es a process and that time and the necessary steps must be
pro"ided for it.
The necessary steps are2
K Creatin% a relaxed %roup atmosphere !hich encoura%es participants to listen to- respect and
support each other. climate !hich listens to- respects and has complicity amon%st its members.
K Ma*in% sure that the tas* !hich !ill to be !or*ed on is crystal clear.
K Sharin% the information of each indi"idual or sub5%roup so it can be properly ta*en into
account.
K Considerin% all points carefully.
K dentifyin% and usin% points !hich are clearly fall on common %round in order to be%in buildin%
the proposal.
K Gradually draftin% the proposal throu%h collecti"e thin*in%.
K Celebratin% your achie"ement.
2hat do 5e understand by collective thinking4
t is li*e a synthesis of indi"idual talents and ideas- not an eclectic summary of !hat is best but
rather a synthesis of all. ndi"idual talents placed in the ser"ice of common %ood- creatin%
throu%h differences- understandin% differences as elements !hich enrich our common "ision or
understandin%.
t implies2
K ,eelin% that one is part of a !hole.
K :ettin% oneself 3blend into3 others.
K Aot considerin% others to be opponents- but rather components of the !hole %roup and in
e0ual conditions.
K =espectin% opinions not throu%h obli%ation but rather throu%h desire.
K 8a"in% a positi"e attitude to be able to see !hat unites- rather than !hat separates.
K Goin% for instead of %oin% against.
K Thin*in% in ad"ance that others1 contributions !ill enrich the process.
K Aot reactin% immediately- allo!in% !hat others say to sin* in first.
This document is the result of the experiences of the Group Dynamics Commission for the
Assemblies of the Puerta del Sol Protest Camp- and contains only su%%estions. .e encoura%e
you to add to it- to impro"e it and to share it around so !e can all learn to participate in an
Assembly.