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Creating a common language base for relationships
Partnership Model
We experience the Partnership Model as a social, cultural, and relational framework based on collaboration, mutual respect, and shared empowerment, where power is exercised in ways that nurture connection, creativity, and collective well-being.
This model was developed by Riane Eisler, who identified it as an alternative to the Dominator Model, emphasizing relationships and systems that are built on equity, care, and interdependence rather than hierarchy and control.
The Partnership Model moves beyond rigid binaries of superior-inferior, authority-obedience, or competition-scarcity, recognizing that true strength emerges through cooperation rather than domination. It fosters a relational dynamic where power is not something to wield over others but something to share, generating environments where all beings can thrive.
Eisler’s work highlights how societies, institutions, and relationships rooted in partnership cultivate trust, creativity, and resilience rather than fear, suppression, or coercion.
Relationally, the Partnership Model encourages deep attunement, authentic communication, and co-creation, where each participant is seen, valued, and empowered. It supports a dynamic where differences are honored rather than used to justify oppression, and where vulnerability is recognized as a source of strength rather than weakness. Within this framework, relationships—whether between individuals, communities, or entire cultures—become regenerative spaces that sustain life rather than extract from it.
In the context of We Space, the Partnership Model aligns with the principles of syntropy, interconnection, and relational coherence. It calls us to dismantle inherited patterns of dominance and instead cultivate relationships, structures, and societies that reflect the deeper truth of our interdependence.
By embodying the Partnership Model, we actively participate in shaping a world where power is used not to control, but to uplift, where leadership is based on service rather than authority, and where co-creation replaces coercion as the foundation of human connection.
Within We Space
In the context of We Space (our relationship space), self-esteem is experienced as an integral aspect of how we show up and engage with others in a shared, co-created field. Within this space, our self-esteem influences how we contribute to the collective experience, affecting our ability to be authentic, vulnerable, and fully present. Healthy self-esteem in We Space allows us to participate with confidence and openness, trusting in our value while honoring the contributions of others.
As we engage in We Space, our self-esteem is both affirmed and shaped by the interactions, feedback, and support we receive from others. This dynamic interplay helps us to see ourselves more clearly, refine our self-perception, and deepen our sense of interconnectedness. By fostering a healthy balance between self-esteem and collective awareness, we create a We Space where all individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute meaningfully to the shared experience.
Practice: Here’s a practice to help understand self-esteem in We Space. Practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice.
Related Concepts:
Commitment | Balance | Attunement
Nuances from the greater We Space
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As we introduce these concepts and definitions, we strive for simplicity in service of practical usefulness. And, we are aware that no verbal definition can ever encompass the complexity and expansiveness of subjective experience.
And so, we invite you, our co-creators, to join us in exploring and expanding these terms, here in the comments.