teisigi

Teisigi is a term used in speculative anthropology and fiction to denote a system of social governance centered on collective decision-making, mutual accountability, and transparent deliberation. It refers to a suite of practices rather than a single institution, and it tends to be described within imagined or hypothetical communities rather than real-world cultures.

Etymology and scope: The word is coined in modern theoretical work drawing from a constructed language used in hypothetical case studies; its components are said to mean "to listen together" and "to act in common." In practice, teisigi encompasses assemblies, rotating leadership, and methods for recording and revisiting decisions.

Core features: The approach emphasizes consensus-building, inclusive participation, and accountability. Key elements include rotating spokespersons or mediators, open agendas, time-bound deliberations, and ritualized confirmation of decisions to reinforce social trust. Documentation of reasoning is common.

Variants and usage: In different imagined societies teisigi manifests with local customs; some emphasize formal voting after deliberation, others rely on storytelling and public deliberation to reach agreement. It is frequently used in academic discussions about governance under resource constraints or external pressure.

Critical perspectives: Analysts note that while teisigi aims to avoid majoritarian dominance and build legitimacy, it can suffer from deadlock, slow response in crises, and susceptibility to manipulation by charismatic voices without safeguards.

See also: Deliberative democracy, consensus decision-making, participatory governance, social ritual.