W5-1. The Challenges of Consensus/ ji eun Bang


The Challenges of Consensus

Wikipedia has established the Arbitration Committee to reach consensus. This is a skilled user panel that exists to seek a binding solution to the Wikipedia dispute that could not be resolved by a joint discussion, manager or arbitration.

Requirements of Consensus are inclusive (“as many stakeholders as possible”), participatory (“actively solicit the input and participation of all”), cooperative (“reach the best possible decision for the group and all of its members”), egalitarian (“equal input” with the “opportunity to table, amend and veto or ‘block’ proposals”), and solution-oriented (“emphasize common agreement over differences”). Agreements are not about quickly calculating "yes" or "no," but about reaching the best possible solution. Of course, an agreement does not mean unanimous. The progress and outcome of the agreement are rarely guaranteed, but focus on the potential benefits of deliberation rather than the speed of the decision.

However, given its reliance on well-meaning assumptions and favoring consensus in decision-making, we can conclude that the Wikipedia community is relatively tolerant of the ambiguity inherent in cooperating with the global encyclopedia in the long run and, rather, trusting human judgment.

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