How each model solves the same problems
Instead of “democracy versus anarchism”, compare the concrete ways collective problems get solved.
| Question | + Model | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| How are decisions made? | Mandatory referendum on constitutional changes; 50,000 signatures in 100 days force a vote on a law; 100,000 in 18 months put an initiative on the ballot. | A stratified random sample of 523 voters deliberated in moderated groups and plenaries and answered questionnaires before and after; no decisions were taken.Sortition / citizens' assembly | |
| How are conflicts resolved? | Parliament may add a counter-proposal; initiatives and constitutional votes need a double majority of voters and cantons. | Balanced briefing materials, trained neutral moderators and competing experts structured disagreement. | |
| How are public goods funded? | Voters decide on federal taxes, social insurance, treaties and many other measures. | Privately funded; produced published results, media coverage and a peer-reviewed study. | |
| How is AI used? | No documented AI role. | No AI role. | |
| What are the main risks? | Participation around half of voters, unequal campaign resources, past exclusion of women, and tension between initiatives and other legal commitments. | Self-selection into attendance; artificial setting; analysis by the method's designers; no institutional uptake. |
This illustrates differences in design; it is not a universal claim about outcomes. Each cell links to mechanisms and the claims behind them.