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? | A lot-selected panel of 18–24 voters reviews one measure; its statements are advisory, and voters still decide the measure at the election.Citizens' initiative reviewSortition / citizens' assembly | 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? | Equal time for proponents and opponents; advocates may give feedback on draft statements; an 11-member commission oversees fairness. | Balanced briefing materials, trained neutral moderators and competing experts structured disagreement. | |
| How are public goods funded? | A neutral information resource printed in the official Voters' Pamphlet for every registered voter. | 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? | No state funding; panels run only when money is raised; the statement's reach depends on voters reading the pamphlet; the Commission can review only some measures each cycle. | 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.