HierArchy

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A HierArchy is a power structure. It is a form of class. A hierarchy's members are treated differently, thus showing a lack of SocialJustice?. Hierarchies to me are dangerous and a threat to democracy, since they evolve power in the top of the hierarchy, and disempower the bottom and middle of the hierarchy. It is a very strong structure, as you can see, but it eventually fails. However, while a hierarchy is still in place, most of its members suffer.

It is an example of PowerToTheFew. Not only is PowerToTheFew ineffective, but a hierarchy's boss(es), the "few" in control, cannot be guaranteed to protect or even help anything. Many people suffer because the top of the hierarchy refuse to DevolvePower and equalize power in the rest of the hierarchy. This refusal can be very harmful.

Hierarchy in communities should be avoided in that it doesn't give everyone the same freedoms, rights, and responsibilities. It can cause great damage. This damage cannot be considered collateral damage, because it was no accident to use a hierarchy as your governance for a community.

What need do they really have? --JonasDaltonRand

Note, the --~~~~ signature idiom from WikiPedia doesn't work. Also, we have a page called PeckingOrder that isn't so UgLy. ;)

Discussion

Hierarchy is a social pattern or, more to the point, a pattern of social organisation. PatternTheory tells us that each pattern has advantages and disadvantages (and that they are optional and adaptable) and only by giving a complete usable pattern description we can get in a situation to select or deselect hierarchy as a solution to a problem. One advantage of a hierarchy is that it allows quick decisions and a focusing of energy in a social group. One disadvantage of a hierarchy is that it is not especially good at learning and innovation. -- HelmutLeitner