Engage in our community challenge to collaboratively explore and learn about the futures of democracy. Open to all, the challenge runs from November 2 to November 30, 2023. All results are fully accessible to every participant.
Introduction to the topic
A healthy democracy is the foundation of freedom and equality in society. It means the rule and governance of the people, by the people, for the people. As we venture further into the 21st century, democracy faces serious challenges. Around the world, trust in democracies is eroding, authoritarian regimes are on the rise, and accelerating global crises are pressure-testing the capacities of democratic nations to find solutions.
What might the futures of democracy look like? How can democratic systems adapt to our current times, remain inclusive, and tackle global issues?
In this Community Challenge, we want to explore the futures of democracy together by mapping and discussing our individual and shared expectations, hopes, and fears.
Suggested Material
The State of Democracy Around the World (Global Democracy Index 2022) - Visual Capitalist 2022 Artificial intelligence, democracy and elections – EU Parliament Briefing, 2023 What if Democracy and Climate Mitigation Are Incompatible? - Foreign Policy, January 7, 2022 Germany: Trust in democracy still strong, survey finds - DW, 2023 The Future of Democracy, A special series from The New Yorker - The New Yorker, 2022About the challenge host
Futures Space hosted by Futures2All is one of the world's largest online communities, and learning platforms for futures knowledge and collaborative futures design. With over 1600 members from over 90 countries, we provide unique crowd-sourced knowledge and the opportunity to share the experiences of future thinkers worldwide.
Find out more: futures-space.com
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Join the digital kickoff event on Nov 2nd, 2023, 16:00–18:00 CET
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Visit our community channel on the Futures Space platform to discuss further and deepen the exchange on the topic.
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The Future of Democracy: Shifting Values, Blockchain Transparency, and Active Citizen Participation
- Future citizen participation and representation in democratic institutions may take new forms.
- The future of democracy depends on discussing topics beyond the influence of AI.
- Integration of blockchain technology could eliminate corruption and enhance transparency in government procedures.
In the future, citizen participation and representation in democratic institutions and processes could take on new forms. As the power of cities and regions strengthens and the idea of nation-states becomes less important, there are opportunities for citizens to identify with and participate in democratic processes. It is believed that the future of democracy depends on discussing topics beyond the influence of AI, such as education and corruption. Giving more power to small communities could help represent the will of the people.
International organizations face challenges today that make it difficult to reach consensus on a global scale. However, more fluid organizational structures are emerging, based on shifting values. Democracy, once seen as an overrated popularity contest, is being replaced by a different system. Government systems are evolving to focus on substantive policies and leadership qualities that truly benefit the public.
The integration of blockchain technology into government procedures could help eliminate corruption and enhance transparency. This would allow citizens to assess and rate the performance of governments and political parties more accurately, leading to more informed decision-making. Some suggest adopting an aggressive democratic system, similar to Switzerland, where citizens constantly vote on various issues to ensure persistent and direct public involvement in governance.
There is a transition from a representative democracy to a participative one, where governance becomes less centralized and citizens have a more active role in decision-making processes. Additionally, incorporating public input into the formulation of public budgets is expected to become the norm.
Diminishing Democracy: Threats and Challenges
- Western countries may experience alienation and growing distrust in democratic institutions.
- Inefficiency in politics and frustration among the populace could contribute to a decline in democracy.
- The rise of climate refugees and populist movements may strain democratic systems.
In the coming years, Western countries could experience a further alienation of their citizens from democratic institutions, leading to a growing distrust in them. This could be exacerbated by the increasing complexity and accelerating impact of global crises, which might benefit populist and anti-democratic movements. Additionally, the democracy of many countries around the world could be destabilized by growing economic problems.
Democracy, as a system, includes a way to "measure" the quality of its citizens in order to allow their participation. However, inefficiency in politics, resulting from slow decision-making, could lead to increased frustration among the populace. This frustration could contribute to a decline in the worldwide democracy index, as authoritarian regimes face little consequence for their actions, including war conflicts and human rights violations, which empowers them.
Furthermore, as the number of climate refugees rises, there might be a corresponding increase in populist movements in countries hosting these refugees. This could further strain democratic systems.
In the future, we might witness the emergence of a merit-based system for determining voting eligibility, potentially based on factors such as knowledge and education. However, implementing such a system would require the development of a balanced and equitable method to assess these qualifications and decide who is granted the right to vote.
Lastly, there is a possibility that the tragedy of the commons, where individual self-interest undermines the well-being of the community as a whole, could continue to persist. This could further challenge the stability and functioning of democratic societies.