Co-Laboratory

The term Co-Laboratory is a contraction which stands for Collaboration Laboratory. The idea derives from Harold Lasswell’s Triad notion of Decision Seminars (1960, 1971), Social Planetarium (1963) and Pre-Legislatures (1963).

The term co-laboratory is preferred over the term workshop, because it highlights an important distinction: The knowledge comes from the participants through a process that is highly participatory and interactive. An actual event is typically referred to as Structured Democratic Dialogue Process.

Citations

• Lasswell, H. D. (1960). The Techniques of Decision Seminars, Midwest Journal of Political Science 4, 213-236.
• Lasswell, H. D. ( 1963). The Future of Political Science, New York: Atherton Press.
• Lasswell, H. D. 1971). A Pre-View of the Political Sciences, New York: American Elsevier.