Consensus – A Principle of the Past? Three Theses on the Current Situation

The will of the majority is the core element of the democratic principle. Political parties formulate interests on behalf of their voters, are elected on that basis, and typically seek to implement the will of the majority through coalition-building. The closer the electoral result, however, the greater the proportion of people who may feel insufficiently represented by its outcome. Along with this potential for dissatisfaction, this type of decision-making can also be associated with a lack of continuity, particularly when coalitions change and decisions are reversed.

International Standardization Fosters Cohesion

Following a long period of stability, in recent years there has been an increasing number of electoral results that highlight the problems mentioned above. International standardization does not solve these problems, but it does help to ensure cohesion amid all the geopolitical uncertainties and contradictions. A key reason for this lies in the consensus principle, which extends democratic principles, by not relying on a simple 51-percent majority but instead seeks a two-thirds majority or, in many cases, even 100-percent acceptance.

The ideal of standardization is based on the premise that all relevant stakeholders are to be consulted and taken into account in relation to a given issue so as to create the basis for a joint decision. The principle of inclusiveness therefore means that particular interests are not pursued in order to push through certain opinions, but rather that experts jointly arrive at a solution which all parties can accept, thus ensuring that the result achieved is highly sustainable.

The Path to 100-Percent Agreement

The path to this goal entails negotiation and compromise. Working groups exchange arguments until a document is drafted with which everyone – as happily as possible – can live. Comments are collected during an initial ballot, and in this phase a standard may still encounter opposition from individual countries. The comments received are incorporated to create a new version that can ideally be adopted on a second ballot. If at this point no agreement has been reached, then a second commenting phase ensues, culminating in a final vote.

What makes this process particularly valuable is that competing industrial approaches, small and medium-sized enterprises, consumer advocates, climate-protection NGOs, skilled crafts and trades, research institutes and other players sit down at the same table and openly share their expertise – trusting in the collaborative process and in the understanding that the jointly developed compromise reflects all points of view and provides a solution that is acceptable to all.

IEC General Meeting 2026

The DKE is honored to host the annual event for international electrotechnical standardization. Under the title “Global Development. Driven by Standards.”, around 3,500 guests are expected in Hamburg in November 2026.

Thesis 1 demonstrates that consensus requires ballots, defeats, reassessment and perseverance. Consensus creates acceptance and takes time – this in contrast to technological change, which is advancing at a rapid pace. A standard that takes three years to be published may, in the worst case, have already been superseded several times by the relevant technology.

We are well aware of this tension between consensus and speed, and we are discussing a variety of ways to mitigate it. For instance, we are working in various management bodies to accelerate standardization and make it more flexible. Artificial intelligence can help us reduce administrative tasks and free up time for essentials. Through the Online Standards Development, we are simplifying the commenting phase so that the diverse feedback can be consolidated more quickly and easily – and in the future very likely with AI support. Initiatives such as SMART Standards aim to increase efficiency in the implementation of standards, moving beyond the cumbersome search through PDF documents consisting of a hundred pages or more.

Additionally, we are working to create agile yet binding documents that provide the industry with guidance on the direction in which a certain standard is evolving. Although these intermediate steps have not yet passed through all stages of consensus-building, they still afford sufficient orientation for manufacturers as to just where the journey is headed and thus allowing them to prepare gradually for the requirements that will be defined. The end result is a well-founded final document that reflects the state of the art and can be implemented by manufacturers. Ideally one achieves 100-percent consensus, but there may also be cases where a simple or two-thirds majority is sufficient.

Basics of standardization: explained briefly and clearly

To understand the principles and fundamentals of standardization, you only need to know a few things. The basics include definitions, basic terms and explanations of processes and objectives, as well as further information on norms and standards.

We all know that the path to a standard is no walk in the park and, in view of technological developments, is already quite complex in its own right. Nonetheless, we aren’t operating in a vacuum and shouldn’t turn a blind eye to the fact that we may also have to venture into uncharted territory. In Europe, for instance, we do this with the so-called harmonized standards, which serve a supportive function for legislative acts.

What does this mean for us? Firstly, we must come to terms with the fact that assessors and consultants may review whether a standard meets the so-called “essential requirements.” This mostly comes after a long period of consensus building involving many experts, which is why a veto at this stage can certainly inflame passions.

Seen from another perspective, however, we can recognize that this additional layer gives standards greater relevance and makes their implementation more binding. This makes for a momentum that won’t torpedo standardization but rather underscores its importance.

To deal effectively with these new dynamics, it makes sense to leave one’s comfort zone and, for instance, learn to understand and correctly apply legal texts. If we bring with us this additional expertise – or bring it into the committees so as to incorporate the necessary aspects at an early stage – frustration can be avoided and our shared goal can be more quickly achieved: a consensus-based standard that is implementable for all and carries even greater weight than before.

Christian Marian, Project Manager International, DKE

Editorial note:

The original English-language article appeared on https://www.gm2026.iec.ch/.

Standardization and strategy: Shaping the future together

Digitalization is advancing and the world is growing together. We take this into account by launching different thrust areas and attending important target projects.

Our goal is to further develop standardization and to make our contribution as a standardization organization in business, society and politics.