Ettepanekuna

Ettepanekuna is a term used in speculative ethnography and fiction to describe a ceremonial process of collective decision-making in a fictional culture. The practice centers on a formal sequence of proposals introduced by participants and refined through successive amendments, with a goal of achieving broad consensus rather than a simple majority.

Etymology and meaning: In the constructed language of the culture, ettepanekuna combines elements roughly translated as 'together' and 'proposal' or 'offer'. The term thus reflects the social ideal of inclusive deliberation embedded in the ritual.

Procedure and features: Gatherings are deliberative assemblies with a prescribed order of speakers; anyone may propose an amendment, subjects are debated, and time-keeping ensures progress. Critique is structured and civil, floor rules are observed, and ultimately the decision is declared when a wide, though not necessarily unanimous, consensus is reached. In some variants the outcome is codified into communal guidelines or laws; in others it remains a ceremonial affirmation.

Cultural role and interpretation: In fiction and speculative studies, ettepanekuna is used to examine the dynamics of legitimacy, inclusion, and governance without coercive force. It offers a lens on how consensus can be pursued in diverse groups and how ritualization shapes political outcomes.

Reception and use: The concept appears in worldbuilding discussions, academic thought experiments, and ensemble narratives as a model for deliberative democracy and cultural difference. It is generally treated as fictional rather than a historical practice.