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Improving Direct Democracy: Overcoming the Crises of Democracy through More and Better Participation

A presentation on the potential of Direct Democracy (DD) to address the challenges of democracy, with a focus on improving DD through increased participation. The presentation highlights the importance of democracy and freedom, the historical context of DD, and the impact of DD on politics and society. It also discusses the benefits of DD, such as increased communication and deliberation among citizens, and proposes ways to improve DD, including public financing, transparency, and building transnational democracy.

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Improving Direct Democracy: Overcoming the Crises of Democracy through More and Better Participation

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  1. The freedom potentials of Direct Democracy (DD) might still be improved -by more and better DD, not less DD !DD as a modern achievement and an important way to overcome the crises of democracy A presentation to the EPSA Congress, Host Country Panel Lucerne (KKL) , November 12, 2007 by Andreas Gross (Switzerland) Director of the Scient. Inst. for Direct Democracy in St-Ursanne, university lecturer and Swiss MP& Member of Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe www.andigross.ch info@andigross.ch

  2. We should overcome the banalisation of the terms Freedom and Democracy Democracy enables us to be free. Freedom enables us to act together on our common life («Life is not a destiny») Democracy constitutes the rules, rights and procedures to prevent conflicts to be solved violently Democracy is the only source for legitimate power

  3. Modern DD was not made in CH - it was only most practised in CH Assembly selfruling traditions in New England States 17. century Modern Referendum is a innovation of the French Revolution 1793 Citizens Initiative: An innovation of french and german Radical Democrats 1830ff

  4. Modern DD was in CH and US an opposition product:By the people for the people Liberal founders of modern CH from 1848 were elitists - as many in many countries today again Many people (farmers, artisans, working class) saw themselves not represented by their parliament They created broad peoples movements who asked for the “last word”

  5. Direct Democracy is about people voting on issues(Constitut. or legislat. changes) The Right to Vote on important issues creates a particular culture of democracy and changes the political and the communicative culture of a country (More substance, more alternatives, more differentiation, more deepness, more knowledge)

  6. Direct Democracy makes politics more communicative Citizens will try to convince each other In order to be convincing they have to listen and to speak with each other Public Discourses get more substance People see, hear and learn more A learning society may solve problems quicker and more in the interest of the people.

  7. Representative democracy is an essential part of Democracy.But it should not have the monopole of D. Indirect Democracy enables you to vote your representatives; Direct Democracy enables you to vote on important issues you don’t want to leave to your Representatives

  8. The 3 cornerstones of modern Direct Democracy Secret vote by ballot-box, mail or internet : No assemblies Some citizens decide when all citizens may decide: No plesbiscites Issues (const./legisl. Reforms): No personal decisions

  9. DD is a set of participatorial citizens rights - much more than just a referendum Const.Referendum (1848) Optional legislat. Referendum (1874) Const.pop.Initiative (1891) Threaty Referendum (1921/77/03) legislat. Initiative Konstruct. Referendum

  10. Which are the basic (“principal”)products of Direct Democracy’s best practices? Individual. / collective communication&deliberations better informed citizens and public Increasing collective learning potentials political openness et legitimate polity Identification with the DD process (« Democratic patriotism »)

  11. DD on local and regional level is a way to restore confidence in democracy in order to constituteDD on the national, the European and global level DD reduces apathy and cynism DD restores trust in yourself and others DD reduces the personalization of politics and opens the public sphere to the essential and hidden questions of the society and our times

  12. The quality of the design of the process determines the quality of DD, the outcome and the quality of the side - effects The design of the process is essential for the «usefulness» of DD for any community. Each level (local, regional, national, trans-national) requires a special design

  13. What DD is not: • Quick fix and fast food • An instrument to rule the people • No consultation or public relation • No internet-forum

  14. How the Swiss DD might be improved: • Public financing of the political parties and active participants in Initiatives and Referendas • More professionalism in the parliament • Transparency and more Fairness in the campaign rules • Communal democracy centres and clubs • More pluralistic regional and local press • Building of transnational (EU-) democracy

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