Braziers is a conscious experiment in living together. It was founded in 1950 to explore how a group could develop more harmonious relationships and more effective group structures.
Much of the research concentrates on techniques of discussion, which allow sensitive attention of the group to all points of view. At their best, these techniques, intended and designed for the purpose – lead to an integration of initially opposing ideas. The process is slow, but constant practice leads to increased sensitivity to the views of other group members, and an increased ability to think together creatively.
The Braziers’ experiment is based on the ideas of two men, Wilfred Trotter (1872-1939), and Norman Glaister (1883-1961), the founder of Braziers. Glaister had a vision of substituting organisations of knowledge, understanding and sympathy for organisations based on power, avoiding too great a concentration of power in a few hands.
There is still the commitment to work with the concepts of Sensory and Executive as two parts of an integrated whole: Braziers Method.
The results of Braziers’ research are recorded partly through the notes made of meetings, which constitute an archive of material dating from the earliest days of Braziers, and partly through the publication of Braziers’ Research Communications. Here’s a link to our most recent release.
An Ethnography of an Intentional Community by Danielle Byrne, 2010 (PDF)
Seeding the Spirit of Ecovillages by Petra Carman- Executive Summary in article form, 2015 (PDF) Full version available here. Here
If you are interested in becoming a member, or contacting one of our members, please have a look at Our Membership page.