How does horizontalism or non-hierarchical organizing work, and what have we learned from attempts at it?

The following responds to a question received during the learning circle held on 'how to occupy a space to advance your cause'. The contents of this page include insight from academic analyses of the use of horizontality in social movements and thinkers who developed and expanded upon the concept deep democracy. 

What is Horizontality?

"Horizontality refers to the active creation of nonhierarchical relations through decision-making processes. Rather than assuming that equality can be declared or created through a centralized authority that is legitimated to rule by 'the people', movement practices of horizontality rest on the assumption that inequality will always permeate every social interaction. This shift in assumptions results in an acknowledgement that these inequalities always exist and that each person is responsible for continuously challenging these inequalities at every step of a decision-making process." -Marianne Maeckelbergh

Lessons on Horizontality from the Alterglobalization movement

What is deep democracy?

Arnold Mindell coined the concept of Deep Democracy.