The design of the Chaordic Commons - and our vision for Terra Civitas - is chaordic. It is modeled not on the machine but on the fundamental organizing principles of nature. It harmoniously blends apparent opposites such as competition and cooperation, self-organization and coherence, freedom and concern for the common good. A few simple perspectives characterize its structure and function. Terra Civitas is:

Multi-centric and distributive

There is no single center of power in Terra Civitas - they are everywhere. The design enables participants to organize themselves at any scale up to the global while keeping power, authority and decision making at the smallest or most local level that includes all relevant and affected parties. The Chaordic Commons, and any others that evolve, will be made up of an unlimited number of participant-led enterprises that create new centers of activity.

Self-organizing and self-evolving

Every Owning Member has the constitutional right to create a new part of the system as long as it embodies the common principles and seeks to advance the overall purpose. Participation is always voluntary, and no one can be forced to participate in something they do not support. Communities, Alliances and Leagues provide a way for Terra Civitas to grow through self-organization rather than through the decisions of a few or a centralized planning process. Every aspect of the organization can be changed as the Commons evolves, sometimes by its Trustees, sometimes by its Trustees and Owning Members together.

Participant-owned and participant-governed

Owning Members govern themselves and the parts of the network in which they participate. All Owning Members participate in electing Trustees to the Council of Trustees. Representation on the Council is balanced to ensure that all categories of membership - and any other Commons that might form - have a voice in decision-making and that no particular interests dominate. There is no self-perpetuating board that governs the organization. Within Communities, Alliance and Leagues, or any other center of activity that self-organizes within the network, participants themselves determine their own self-governance processes. We expect many different approaches - consensus, voting, and others - to be used. Proven practices can be expected to proliferate.

Diverse and adaptive

There are few constraints on innovation and experimentation in an organization free of self-perpetuating boards, vested interests or the pet programs of management. Rich collaboration can occur. Competing strategies can be pursued simultaneously. One size need not fit all. Good ideas spread rapidly, and bad ideas are likely to be choked off before they do much damage. Minority views need not fear a usurping majority. The majority need not fear a disruptive minority. All can pursue their objectives in good faith in a complex ecology of continually evolving ideas, perspectives and practices.

Strongly cohesive, with an unshakable focus on common purpose and core principles

All participants are dedicated to the same overarching purpose and share a common set of core principles. In addition, Trustees have a fiduciary duty of care to the whole of their Commons and the fiduciary duty of loyalty to the whole of Terra Civitas and its purpose and principles.