Here's the first (regular, possibly eventually daily) Social Innovation
idea (ISI 1) from the Institute for Social Inventions. I will post them
initially to the whole New Civilization mailing list but will restrict them
to the Creativity Group if feedback suggests this is more appropriate. The
hope is that this series will inspire the reader to creative ideas or
refinements, or to suggest ways the ideas could be adapted to other
contexts, or to use the ideas to spin-off related or unrelated ideas of
their own. And the most helpful criticism would be to suggest a way an idea
could be transformed so it could work, rather than outright dismissal.
ISI 1:
Summary: Foreign MPs could sit in a Northern Ireland parliament as arbitrators
In addition to 'normal' MPs, a new Northern Ireland parliament could have a
small number, let us say five, of 'Arbitrator MPs'. Each Arbitrator MP is
appointed by one out of a set of governments of foreign countries which
have been accepted as impartial both by a majority of Catholic MPs and by a
majority of Protestant MPs. Arbitrator MPs occupy seats in the parliament,
speak in debates, attend committees, and so on, but do not have a vote
(except as explained below).
Legislation is passed if it gets the vote of a majority of Catholic MPs,
and of a majority of Protestant MPs. If it fails to get a majority in one
community, then each community puts forward its preferred version of the
legislation, supported by a majority of its MPs. The Arbitrator MPs vote
between the two versions, and the one preferred by a majority of them is
passed.
Arbitrated Power-Sharing can be expected to result in a government policy
responsive to the needs of both Protestants and Catholics, and generally
acceptable to either community. At the same time, it avoids giving any
community a veto, and so is much less likely than a veto scheme, such as
that proposed by Opsahl, to result in deadlock and breakdown.
This idea in a much expanded form was put forward by Institute for Social
Inventions consultant David Chapman in 'Social Innovations - A Compendium'
(ISI, 1993). All comments, suggested improvements, criticisms, spin-offs
etc will be forwarded to David Chapman.
-- With best wishes, Nicholas Albery <rhino@bbcnc.org.uk> The Institute for Social Inventions | Tel +44 [0]181 208 2853 *also* The Natural Death Centre | Fax +44 [0]181 452 6434 20 Heber Road, London NW2 6AA, UK ISI: WWW page http://www.protree.com/worldtrans/ISI.html NDC: WWW page http://www.protree.com/worldtrans/naturaldeath.html
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