We present a model showing the evolution of an organization of agents who discuss democratically about good practices. This model feeds on a field work we did for about twelve years in France where we followed NPOs, called AMAPs, and observed their construction through time at the regional and national level. Most of the hypothesis we make here are either based on the literature on opinion diffusion or on the results of our field work. By defining dynamics where agents influence each other, make collective decision at the group level, and decide to stay in or leave their respective groups, we analyse the effect of different forms of vertical communication that is meant to spread good practices within the organization. Our main indicators of the good functioning of the democratic dynamics are stability and representativeness. We show that if communication about norms is well designed, it has a positive impact on both stability and representativeness. Interestingly the effect of communication increases with the number of dimensions discussed in the groups. Communication about norms is thus a valuable tool to use in groups that wish to improve their democratic practices without jeopardizing stability.

中文翻译：

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民主环境下稳定与代表制之间的张力

我们提供了一个模型，该模型显示了对良好实践进行民主讨论的特工组织的演变。该模型以我们在法国进行了大约十二年的野外工作为基础，在那儿我们遵循了称为NAPP的NPO，并在区域和国家层面观察了它们的建设。我们在这里做出的大多数假设要么基于关于观点传播的文献，要么基于我们实地调查的结果。通过定义代理之间相互影响的动力，在小组级别做出集体决策并决定留在或离开各自的小组，我们分析了旨在在组织内传播良好做法的不同形式的垂直沟通的影响。我们民主动力良好运转的主要指标是稳定和代表性。我们表明，如果对规范的交流进行精心设计，它将对稳定性和代表性产生积极影响。有趣的是，交流的效果随着小组讨论的维度数量的增加而增加。因此，关于规范的交流是希望在不损害稳定的前提下改善其民主做法的团体中使用的宝贵工具。