Background to this page
Posted by
ChrisB on
14/02/26
The ideal of "subsidiarity" is easily derailed by processes & interests that are hierarchical because they seem "natural". From ancient times & in most cultures, we are conditioned by the "leader/follower" system. It now has highly sophisticated processes which are so embedded as to seem natural & to go unnoticed. In it, "follow me" (anathema) & "just tell me what to do" has pay-offs, but it is anti subsidiarity & very dangerous, as global imbalance warns.
To develop this idea further ...make it an 'Activity' by pressing here.
Recent Comments:
ChrisB
20/02/26
One problem with current definitions of Subsidiarity is that "all people" can be thought to mean groups, not each person — indeed given that society is conditioned to think "democratically" (majority rule & "the greatest good for the greatest number" etc) it's inevitable. That can chop subsidiarity off ABOVE the individual.
I suggest one change should be…
"SUBSIDIARITY
Subsidiarity means that EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives.
These decisions should be made at the appropriate level, by the people most affected by the decision.
'Development programmes, if they are to be adapted to THE INDIVIDUAL'S SITUATIONS, need to be flexible; and the INDIVIDUALS who benefit from them ought to be directly involved in their planning and implementation.'' "
I suggest one change should be…
"SUBSIDIARITY
Subsidiarity means that EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives.
These decisions should be made at the appropriate level, by the people most affected by the decision.
'Development programmes, if they are to be adapted to THE INDIVIDUAL'S SITUATIONS, need to be flexible; and the INDIVIDUALS who benefit from them ought to be directly involved in their planning and implementation.'' "
ChrisB
19/02/26
In reflecting on this Create Village forum & the how the template works, we should always contrast it with other current offerings
— this WUF is one I just looked at … https://wuf.unhabitat.org/multilevel-urban-forums
I hope you will seriously think about how impractical, inefficient, expensive it is as a forum & especially how it acts in relation to individual empowerment … SUBSIDIARITY is alienated
— this WUF is one I just looked at … https://wuf.unhabitat.org/multilevel-urban-forums
I hope you will seriously think about how impractical, inefficient, expensive it is as a forum & especially how it acts in relation to individual empowerment … SUBSIDIARITY is alienated
ChrisB
19/02/26
In reflecting on this Create Village forum & the how the template works, we should always contrast it with other current offerings
— this WUF is one I just looked at … https://wuf.unhabitat.org/multilevel-urban-forums
I hope you will seriously think about how impractical, inefficient, expensive it is as a forum & especially how it acts in relation to individual empowerment … SUBSIDIARITY is alienated
— this WUF is one I just looked at … https://wuf.unhabitat.org/multilevel-urban-forums
I hope you will seriously think about how impractical, inefficient, expensive it is as a forum & especially how it acts in relation to individual empowerment … SUBSIDIARITY is alienated
ChrisB
18/02/26
Discussion can continue here unlimited as chit chat under this "Talking Point" column.
I have now used this discussion to open up a place under "Activities" where a "constitution" can help guide interested people towards promotion & progression of a "Subsidiarity Project" process. See under the "Activity" column
I have now used this discussion to open up a place under "Activities" where a "constitution" can help guide interested people towards promotion & progression of a "Subsidiarity Project" process. See under the "Activity" column
ChrisB
17/02/26
In response to the idea that agreed project descriptions should form a "constitution" in the process,
LL-ANON wrote on 14/2/26
"A 'Project Constitution' approach resonates with the principles … particularly around protecting individual agency and transparency.
and
I appreciate the spirit of keeping any exploration low-stakes and non-committal"
In response to LL-ANON,
the next step in learning about the on-line process here would be to see how the material here so far can go across to the "Activity" template where a Constitution can start to take shape & be commented of for refinements that preserve what the project started until proposed changes are unanimously agreed to by those who already endorsed the earlier Constitution — an endorsement or comment that never implies any commitment that is not specified by the individual
—it's just acknowledgement of & respect for the project's Constitution.
LL-ANON wrote on 14/2/26
"A 'Project Constitution' approach resonates with the principles … particularly around protecting individual agency and transparency.
and
I appreciate the spirit of keeping any exploration low-stakes and non-committal"
In response to LL-ANON,
the next step in learning about the on-line process here would be to see how the material here so far can go across to the "Activity" template where a Constitution can start to take shape & be commented of for refinements that preserve what the project started until proposed changes are unanimously agreed to by those who already endorsed the earlier Constitution — an endorsement or comment that never implies any commitment that is not specified by the individual
—it's just acknowledgement of & respect for the project's Constitution.
ChrisB
14/02/26
Further to my earlier post where I posted a draft definition of "Subsidiarity", one concern I have about it is that it is not clear that the individual, not the community, is the base for empowerment
The idea of subsidiarity needs an agreed definition that others could comment on to refine—I see current definitions as being at risk of putting the group ahead of the individual as the foundation for Subsidiarity
The idea of subsidiarity needs an agreed definition that others could comment on to refine—I see current definitions as being at risk of putting the group ahead of the individual as the foundation for Subsidiarity
ChrisB
14/02/26
LL-ANON also wrote on 6/2/26
How do we support people to scale their ideas without taking over? Moving from “inclusive” processes to genuinely “owned” processes is not easy, especially within institutional accountability requirements, but it is essential if subsidiarity is to be real rather than symbolic.
While technology is not a solution on its own, it may offer ways for communities to document decisions, manage processes, and retain control on their own terms if designed with power and access in mind.
How do we support people to scale their ideas without taking over? Moving from “inclusive” processes to genuinely “owned” processes is not easy, especially within institutional accountability requirements, but it is essential if subsidiarity is to be real rather than symbolic.
While technology is not a solution on its own, it may offer ways for communities to document decisions, manage processes, and retain control on their own terms if designed with power and access in mind.
ChrisB
14/02/26
In reply to Chris
LL-ANON wrote
I agree with your central concern: when initiatives grow and more powerful actors become involved, there is a real risk that good intentions and formal processes quietly take over, reducing the agency of those who originally led the idea. Even when the outcome is positive, the process can become disempowering if ownership is lost along the way.
LL-ANON wrote
I agree with your central concern: when initiatives grow and more powerful actors become involved, there is a real risk that good intentions and formal processes quietly take over, reducing the agency of those who originally led the idea. Even when the outcome is positive, the process can become disempowering if ownership is lost along the way.
ChrisB
14/02/26
I'm not ready to make this an "Activity" yet as there is more background to add before doing so. There have been numerous discussions by email & face to face about Subsidiarity with important input from participants. So as not to identify anybody in those private exchanges publicly here, I will post key points they raised under my own name, but sign their points "xyz-anon". Anyone can stay anonymous & post on their own behalf from their own anonymous email. As this is a public project page, any of 8bil people can see & post here. If they want their input to become part of the project described under "Activity" they thereby signify that they endorse the project's description as of that date. Changes to the description after that time will only be made if there are no objections by any others who have endorsed the latest project description (constitution).
Prior to all that, "ChitChat" has already delivered material that I can draw on to set up an "Activity" description after I have summarised what has already been "agreed" on so far.
Email, phone & face to face ChitChat began using a draft Subsidiarity definition taken from the public home page of Caritas (see image). Subsequently, that definition got refined, as did some other matters.
The exchanges that led to that are anonymised as follows…
Prior to all that, "ChitChat" has already delivered material that I can draw on to set up an "Activity" description after I have summarised what has already been "agreed" on so far.
Email, phone & face to face ChitChat began using a draft Subsidiarity definition taken from the public home page of Caritas (see image). Subsequently, that definition got refined, as did some other matters.
The exchanges that led to that are anonymised as follows…
I offer these ideas —
SUBSIDIARITY
Subsidiarity means that every individual has the right to make or directly shape decisions that affect their lives.
These decisions should be made at the appropriate level—by and among the individuals most affected, in full public openness, where every relevant truth can be seen and no one can dismiss another's truth without reputational cost.
In such a space, truths do not compete. They reconcile. The outcome may not be what any single person initially wanted, but it will be one that all can recognize as true to the full situation.
But this assumes that all truths can appear.
We know this is false.
The silenced, the traumatized, the ones without words or permission—their truths are not nothing, only hidden. A process that cannot hear them is incomplete, and must remain restless until it does.
"Development programmes, if they are to be adapted to the individual's situations, need to be flexible; and the individuals who benefit from them ought to be directly involved in their planning and implementation."
— Populorum Progressio
This implies genuine authority, not merely presence. The individual is not a beneficiary of subsidiarity but its subject and agent.