[OSList] Open Space in dictatorship

[Elwin and Joan]

Ulrika,
I have Opened Space countless times in nearly every country of the former Soviet Union, from Eastern Europe to Central Asia.
In most cases I had the opportunity to return for further development work. I have never encountered anyone who suffered any retribution as a result of Open Space participation. To the contrary, I continue to get email thank you notes from many participants of Open Space dating back more than a decade. 

It always works!

Elwin Guild
Future Development International





On Monday, February 10, 2014 11:34 AM, Ulrika Eklund <ulrika.eklund at telia.com> wrote:
 
Dear listmembers and all your experience

I would love to take part of your experience and knowledge about 
working with OS in countries operated by dictatorship. A closed space, 
where you are used/allowed to think as The party. "Its a lovely country 
as long as you follow the rules" 

For example I had a training course with a group working in the 
authorities and governmental bodies (national and regional level), and 
they listed some of the problems in one area. After they were 
encouraged to brainstorm ideas and solutions on the problems. After the 
task I asked - what was the new ideas and insight you got? New?! We 
repeated what the party already have decided"... so it was more a 
memory test :) An other exampel: in the university where I met the 
students study a Human rights course sponsered by another country. They 
said: "its a good course. Why I asked and the answer was: we are 
allowed to ask questions when we don't understand, you know sometimes 
you read a text in the book and you don't understand and it doesnot 
help to read it many times, here we can ask, and we are also allowed to 
discuss.  

So my question - how is Open Space working in this circumstances? How 
you know people that think freely are not punished after?

WIsh you all a lovley week
Ulrika


--
Ulrika Eklund
Bergsgatan 7A
SE-112 23 Stockholm
Sweden
mobile +46-(0)70-699 86 12

--

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