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.

Slides:

Advertisements

Similar presentations

Civic and Voter Education

Advertisements

« La démocratie représentative s’est imposé dans son principe au moment où elle s’est fragilisée dans son fonctionnement » Pierre Rosanvallon, La démocratie.

The Ekklesia (People’s Assembly) in Greece. Any citizen aged 20 or above could attend meetings and speak to members of the Assembly. The Assembly met 40.

Minority(s) representation and recognition through intensive participation in a Direct Democracy A presentation to the JEF&YES’ European Seminar “Majorities.

Is there a clash between the individual citizen and democracy? Keynote speech for the JMK/FES - Conference on “Values of Social Democracy yesterday, today.

Deliberation is the soul of Direct Democracy (DD) The design of the Referendum process determines the quality of DD - well designed it helps to contribute.

The role of parliamentarians in strengthening democracy The distribution of power is not a zero-sum-issue: Increasing citizens power makes representative.

Constituting transnational Democracy as the main challenge for European Integration An introduction to a debate at the Europe Institute of the University.

Direct Democracy-Reform in the center of the making of the new constitution of Zurich by Andreas Gross (Switzerland) Director of the Scientific Institute.

« La démocratie représentative s’est imposé dans son principe au moment où elle s’est fragilisée dans son fonctionnement » Pierre Rosanvallon, La démocratie.

Human Rights and Democracy: An ongoing and never ending individual and collective learning process An introduction to the Swiss Helsinki Committee Youth.

Strengthening democracy by increasing citizen participation would catalyze ecological change The way individuals think about and act in nature reflects.

The potentials of Direct Democracy to democratize Democracy The soul of Direct Democracy: Legitimation by communication The potentials of Direct Democracy.

The philosophy of Direct Democracy - why we need it in order to democratize Democracy and what has been achieved so far in Europe Contribution to the seminar.

Direct Democracy in foreign policy: Switzerland and Europe A contribution to the 43rd Otago Foreign Policy School “Power to the People ? Public Participation.

The potentials of Direct Democracy to democratize Democracy The potentials of Direct Democracy to democratize Democracy A presentation for southkorean.

Lessons from the history of the Swiss Democracy for the Making of a European Constitution Budapest Forum “Towards a More Democratic Europe” November 20.

Majoritarian or Pluralist Democracy?

European transnational campaigning - ‘citizens initiative’ in the new EU- treaty (Art.11.4) National Democracies & transnational structures + Democracies.

150 years of experiences with Direct Democracy Insights and lessons which might be learned from the national, regional and local level in Switzerland Workshop.

“ Ensuring the integrity of Elections”: A common effort ! Some thesis for deliberations to the OSCE Chairmanship Expert Seminar on Electoral Management.

The double crises of today’s democracies: Too indirect and too national - we need more direct and more transnational democracies An introduction to a debate.

Creating legitimacy and integrating diversity by empowering citizens The challenge of election law design for Democracy and Democracy building Workshop.

The quality of a referendum process depends from it’s design In order to create a dynamic relation between citizens and the political system (Direct) Democracy.

”E-Democracy” is only a tool we need - To overcome the double crises of Democracy we have to realize serious constitutional reforms which provides citizens.

Visions for the future role of DD in the EU: Europe‘s DD-Utopia Andreas Gross, Political Scientist Atelier pour la Democratie Directe (ADD)

The role of citizens, MP’s, Rule of law and Separation of Powers in strengthening democracy The distribution of power is not a zero-sum-issue: Increasing.

Direct Democracy as a opportunity for collective political learning The Swiss foreign policy as a ambivalent example An introduction to a debate at the.

Diversity and Integration as challenges for Democracy Ten hypothesis to be discussed concerning the question, if Switzerland and Hannah Arendt might be.

History, culture, practise and design of Direct Democracy in Switzerland a short introduction from Andreas Gross (MP/Pol.Scientist/ADD)

“The role of political parties in electoral processes”: What parties might do to build and strengthen democracy Contribution to a workshop by Andreas Gross.

Ways to Direct Citizen Participation in the political decision making of the European Union Some hypothesis and impulses from Andreas Gross, MP/Political.

The potentials of Direct Democracy to democratize Democracy The soul of Direct Democracy: Legitimation by communication The potentials of Direct Democracy.

GRADE 7 SOCIAL STUDIES: Course Outline

The creation of the Canton Jura: Looking from the outside with a special focus on federalism and (republican) democracy A contribution for a Discussion.

Nils Ehlers Forum for the Future of Democracy Yerevan, October 20 th, 2010.

What may inspire the EU from I&R experiences in Switzerland ? Some discussion points from Andreas Gross at the Meeting “Options and limits.

The political system of Switzerland: ”Built and driven by the society and the sub-national societies” 7 hypothesis as a contribution to the Training program.

Chapter Two: Majoritarian or Pluralist Democracy?.

DEMOCRACY IN THE UK. The UK can be said to be democratic in that it has:  Free and Fair Elections  Representative institutions – Parliament  Free press.

AP Government Majoritarian or Pluralist Democracy?

TOPIC 1 Democracy and Political Participation. Democracy Axel et al state that from the original Greek, the term means, rule by the people or by the many.

The Role of the Political Parties in a Parliamentary Democracy by Andreas Gross (Switzerland) (Political Scientist/Director Atelier for Direct Democracy.

Advocacy Advocacy involves strategies aimed at influencing the creation and implementation of laws and policy. In addition to using their voting power,

Competence Sharing in a Federal State

Elementary PowerPoint 1: Government and Democracy

Political representation and democracy

How would you feel about changing the drinking age? Would you argue for it or against it? Why? Tie your arguments to concepts we have learned.

Elementary PowerPoint 1: Government and Democracy

Predominant Forms of Democratic Governments:

The Parliament – the Heart of Democracy and engine for Nation building

What is the referendum about?

Legitimacy deficit and Direct democracy: Bulgaria and the EU The design determines the quality of DD - a good design focuses on deliberation, participation.

Challenges of local Direct Democracy in Albania after the administr

Democracy: Principles of liberalism

How Is Power Divided? Unitary Federal Confederation

The Global State of Democracy and the crisis of representation

Good Governance in Singapore

by Andreas Gross , Dr.h.c. (Switzerland)

The soul of Direct Democracy: Legitimation by communication The potentials of Direct Democracy to democratize Democracy A presentation for Dutch MP’s.

The Parliament – the Heart of Democracy: Role and Responsibility of the Parliamentary majority and opposition in policy making by Andreas Gross, Dr.h.c.

DIRECT DEMOCRACY University of Exeter HUSS Department of Politics

Challenges of the Democratisation of Democracy from the ECI to local Direct Democracy- “in a non-successful 3rd wave democracy” by Andreas Gross (Switzerland)

Professional Training Programme for Officials from Afghanistan

Government Systems in Latin America:

by Andreas Gross (Switzerland)

Group 2.1: Main conclusions on e-democracy and e-governance

by Andreas Gross (Switzerland)

Contribution to a workshop by Andreas Gross (Switzerland)

DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES

Presentation transcript:

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

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

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

They created broad peoples movements who asked for the “last word” 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”

Direct Democracy is about people voting on issues (Constitut 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)

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.

Indirect Democracy enables you to vote your representatives; 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

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

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

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 »)

DD reduces apathy and cynism DD restores trust in yourself and others DD on local and regional level is a way to restore confidence in democracy in order to constitute DD 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

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

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

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