The soul of Direct Democracy:Legitimation by communication
The potentials of Direct Democracy The potentials of Direct Democracy to democratize Democracyto 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 [email protected]
1. Actual approach1. Actual approach2. History of DD2. History of DD3. Cornerstones of DD3. Cornerstones of DD4. Design requirements4. Design requirements5. Central achievements5. Central achievements6. Misunderstandings, 6. Misunderstandings, Conclusions, CH-Improvements Conclusions, CH-Improvements
I. I. We should overcome the We should overcome the banalisation of the term banalisation of the term
“Democracy”
Democracy enables us to be Democracy enables us to be free.. Freedom enables us to act together on our Freedom enables us to act together on our
common life (« common life (« Life is not a destiny ») ») Democracy constitutes the rules, rights and Democracy constitutes the rules, rights and
procedures to procedures to prevent conflicts to be solved violentlyprevent conflicts to be solved violently Democracy is the only source for Democracy is the only source for legitimate power
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
The 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
Representative democracy is an essential part of Democracy.
But it should not have But it should not have the monopole of D.the monopole of D.
Indirect Democracy enables you to vote enables you to vote your representatives;your representatives;
Direct Democracy enables you to vote on enables you to vote on important issues you don’t want to leave important issues you don’t want to leave
to your Representativesto your Representatives
Direct Democracy is about people voting on issues ((Constitut. or legislat. changes)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 Direct Democracy makes politics more communicativepolitics 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.
II. 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
Modern DD was in CH and US Modern DD was in CH and US an opposition productan opposition product::
By the people for the people Liberal founders of modern CH from 1848 were el
itists Many people feel themselves not representated b
y their parliament They created peoples movements who asked for
the “last word”
III. III. The 3 cornerstones of moderThe 3 cornerstones of modern Direct Democracyn 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 DD is a set of participatorial citizens rights - much more citizens rights - much more
than just a referendumthan 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
IV. Which are the basic (“principal”)products of Direct Democracy’s best practices??
Individ. / collective Individ. / collective communication&deliberationscommunication&deliberations
Multiple deliberationsMultiple deliberations Collective learning potentialsCollective learning potentials
political openess et legitimate politypolitical openess et legitimate polity Identification with the DD process Identification with the DD process
(« Democratic patriotism ») (« Democratic patriotism »)
DD on local and regional level is a condition to DD on local and regional level is a condition to restore confidence in democracy in order to restore confidence in democracy in order to
constituteconstitute DD on the national level and Democracy DD on the national level and Democracy on the transnational and global levelon the transnational and global level
DD reduces apathyDD reduces apathy DD reduces cynism DD reduces cynism
DD restores trust in yourself and othersDD restores trust in yourself and others DD reduces the personalization of politics and DD reduces the personalization of politics and
opens the public sphere to the essential questions opens the public sphere to the essential questions of the society and our timesof the society and our times
V. V. 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
Ex. for high quality DD-Design (I) :Free signature gatheringFree signature gathering
Allows to address unknown fellow citizensAllows to address unknown fellow citizens Increases serious deliberation opportunitiesIncreases serious deliberation opportunities
Protects anonymityProtects anonymity Facilitates the meeting of other social groupsFacilitates the meeting of other social groups
Enforces the overcoming of preduciesEnforces the overcoming of preducies
Ex. for high quality DD-Design (II) :Low % signature requirementsLow % signature requirements
DD is an instrument for those who are not powerfulDD is an instrument for those who are not powerful It helps to integrate minorities and diversityIt helps to integrate minorities and diversity
All hear and sea more when it’s easier not to be overlookedAll hear and sea more when it’s easier not to be overlooked The Polity is more open and accessible for new ideasThe Polity is more open and accessible for new ideas
Unsolved problems may be less overlookedUnsolved problems may be less overlooked
Ex. for high quality DD-Design (III) No special majority qualifications No special majority qualifications
(“quorums”)(“quorums”)
Those, who take part, decideThose, who take part, decide No invitations to play against the spirit of DDNo invitations to play against the spirit of DD You have to convince, when you want to winYou have to convince, when you want to win
The majority of those, who participated, decideThe majority of those, who participated, decide
Ex. for high quality DD-Design (IV):
No by passing of the ParliamentNo by passing of the Parliament
ID and DD are complementaryID and DD are complementary ID and DD have to build up a cooperative cultureID and DD have to build up a cooperative culture Mutual Counterproposals increase the optionsMutual Counterproposals increase the options
Institutional deliberations increase Institutional deliberations increase
the institutional learning and respondsivnesthe institutional learning and respondsivnes
VI. What DD is not:
Quick fix and fast foodQuick fix and fast food An instrument to rule the peopleAn instrument to rule the people
No consultation or public relationNo consultation or public relation No internet-forumNo internet-forum
Wrong arguments against DD:
Too slowToo slow Too complicatedToo complicated
Only digital answersOnly digital answers Desinterest of citizensDesinterest of citizens
People are too busyPeople are too busy
How the Swiss DD might be improved:
Public financing of the political partiesPublic financing of the political parties More professional parliamentMore professional parliament
Transparent and fairer campaigningTransparent and fairer campaigning Communal democracy housesCommunal democracy houses
More pluralistic regional and local pressMore pluralistic regional and local press Building of transnational democracyBuilding of transnational democracy