""Peacemaking is too important to be left to the professionals. It is the opportunity and obligation of every human being. The act of peacemaking may be purely intuitive, but it can also rise to the level of intentional act and become in fact The Practice of Peace."" - Introduction to The Practice of Peace

First published in 2002, Harrison Owen's book on Open Space Technology began as a set of notes to himself, which eventually evolved into a cohesive text. This manuscript was then shared with approximately 180 colleagues for critique before being collaboratively refined and published.

The principles and techniques outlined in Owen's work are effective. As he states in the preface to this online edition:

""The twenty year natural experiment with Open Space Technology has demonstrated that both Peace and High Performance are attainable. Hugely conflicted groups have found ways to respectfully deal with each other as they discovered workable solutions for their issues. Complex projects have been brought to fruition in breathtakingly short times, a clear example of High Performance.

""Many people have viewed the results as counterintuitive, unbelievable, even magic. The results continue, however, in thousands of instances and 135 countries. But the 'magic' is not Open Space Technology, but rather the force that underlies it — the power of self organization.""

Article/Download: The Practice of Peace (2nd Edition)