1. Challenges of the Democratisation of Democracy from the ECI to local Direct Democracy- “in a non-successful 3rd wave democracy”
by Andreas Gross (Switzerland)
(Political Scientist/ Dr h.c.; Lecturer and Director Atelier for Direct Democracy St-Ursanne, 24 years Swiss MP/ : Leader of the Social Democrats in the PACE Strasburg)
Presentation for the Seminar “Citizen’s Participation and Direct Democracy”
org. by KRIIK Albania and CDO,
Tirana, February 2nd 2017

2. Questions & hypothesis to start…
“3rd Wave” ? (1789) – 1918 –
“Non-successful” ?: - Albania is today more democratic than 1955 or 1999 !
Democracy is not a ”success-story”,
but a ongoing never-ending process
The ECI is neither a citizens initiative nor a success-story for democracy; but still the first and only trans-national, citizen-participative democratic right: just another beginning of a new historical process

3. Similar main challenges for Europeans and Albanians
Learn to act transnationally – new dimension, no democratic polity (no constitution)
Learn to act – new way of life, “dangerous”, exclusive polity
Mentalities do not change overnight,

4. Multiple deep collective learning processes needed
Life is not a destiny – Freedom is more than a choice, alone you don’t find it and you can never buy it
In a democracy power has to be shared – horizontally and vertically, no monopoles
A constitution is a agreement between all citizens
Citizens are partners, not enemies, consumers or clients – constitution and laws have to be designed this way

5. The best and most encouraging way to learn….
… is the possibility and the opportunity to make new, other and better experiences. Like this you experience new opportunities and start to see, that the seemingly impossible is possible !