The Samoan Circle is a leaderless meeting intended to help negotiations in controversial issues. While there is no "leader," a professional facilitator can welcome participants and explain the seating arrangements, rules, timelines and the process. As with the Fish Bowl process, the Samoan Circle has people seated in a circle within a circle, however only those in the inner circle are allowed to speak. The inner circle should represent all the different viewpoints present, and all others must remain silent. The process offers others a chance to speak only if they join the "inner circle."
This page originally copied with permission from the Citizens Science Toolbox
