Title: The soul of Direct Democracy: Legitimation by communication The potentials of Direct Democracy to democratize Democracy
1The soul of Direct DemocracyLegitimation by
communication The potentials of Direct Democracy
to democratize Democracy
- A presentation for Russian Experts
- by Andreas Gross (Switzerland)
- Director of the Scientific Institute for Direct
Democracy in St.Ursanne and Swiss MP Member of
PA of Council of Europe - Guggisberg, 23. November 2006
- www.andigross.ch info_at_andigross.ch
2 1. Actual approach2. History of DD3.
Cornerstones of DD4. Design requirements5.
Central achievements6. Misunderstandings,
Conclusions, CH-Improvements
3I. We should overcome the banalisation of the
term 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
4 The difficulties to become a democrat in a
post-totalitarian context
- Every individual human being counts - equally
- Citizens are subjects, not objects of politics -
they act on their one behalf - In order to develop your power, you have to act
together with likeminded people - Nobody knows the truth - everybody knows a part
of it - Life means conflict - conflicts have nothing to
do with violence
5The difficulties to built the cornerstones of a
democracy in a post-totalitarian, capitalistic
context
- Separation of powers Independent Parliament and
Judiciary - Rule of law and pluralism
- Human Rights und their protection
- Freedom of the press and public (not state) TV
- Civil society
6 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 dont want to leave to your
Representatives
7 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)
8 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.
9 II. 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
10 Modern DD was in CH and US an opposition
productBy the people for the people
- Liberal founders of modern CH from 1848 were
elitists - Many people feel themselves not representated by
their parliament - They created peoples movements who asked for the
last word
11 III. 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
12 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)
- General/legislat. Initiative
- Konstruct.Referendum
- Financial Referendum
13IV. Which are the basic (principal)products of
Direct Democracys best practices?
- Individ. / collective communicationdeliberations
- Multiple deliberations
- Collective learning potentials
- political openess et legitimate polity
- Identification with the DD process ( Democratic
patriotism )
14DD on local and regional level is a condition to
restore confidence in democracy in order to
constitute DD on the national level and Democracy
on the transnational and global level
- ? DD reduces apathy
- DD reduces cynism
- DD restores trust in yourself and others
- ? DD reduces the personalization of politics and
opens the public sphere to the essential
questions of the society and our times
15V. The quality of the design of the process
determines the quality of 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,
transnational) requires a special design
16Ex. for high quality DD-Design (I) Free
signature gathering
- Allows to address unknown fellow citizens
- Increases serious deliberation opportunities
- Protects anonymity
- Facilitates the meeting of other social groups
- Enforces the overcoming of preducies
17Ex. for high quality DD-Design (II) Low
signature requirements
- DD is an instrument for those who are not
powerful - It helps to integrate minorities and diversity
- All hear and sea more when its easier not to be
overlooked - The Polity is more open and accessible for new
ideas - Unsolved problems may be less overlooked
18Ex. for high quality DD-Design (III) No special
majority qualifications (quorums)
- Those, who take part, decide
- No invitations to play against the spirit of DD
- You have to convince, when you want to win
- The majority of those, who participated, decide
19Ex. for high quality DD-Design (IV) No by
passing of the Parliament
- ID and DD are complementary
- ID and DD have to build up a cooperative culture
- Mutual Counterproposals increase the options
- Institutional deliberations increase
- the institutional learning and respondsivnes
20VI. What DD is not
- Quick fix and fast food
- An instrument to rule the people
- No consultation or public relation
- No internet-forum
21Wrong arguments against DD
- Too slow
- Too complicated
- Only digital answers
- Desinterest of citizens
- People are too busy
22How the Swiss DD might be improved
- Public financing of the political parties
- More professional parliament
- Transparent and fairer campaigning
- Communal democracy houses
- More pluralistic regional and local press
- Building of transnational democracy