Polity Atlas

How each model solves the same problems

Instead of “democracy versus anarchism”, compare the concrete ways collective problems get solved.

Question✕✕✕
How are decisions made?Enterprise data was to flow to a Santiago operations room, with alerts returning to managers; engineers described the modelling in practice as technocratic and top down.Grand Council of 50 chiefs chosen by clan mothers; questions pass between groups of nations, each seeking unanimity, with the Onondaga Firekeepers confirming or resolving disagreement.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?UnknownThe Confederacy describes the Grand Council as resolving disputes among the nations and planning for the welfare of all the people.Balanced briefing materials, trained neutral moderators and competing experts structured disagreement.
How are public goods funded?UnknownUnknownPrivately funded; produced published results, media coverage and a peer-reviewed study.
How is AI used?No AI: statistical monitoring and simulation on one mainframe; often cited as an early precursor of data-driven governance.No documented AI role.No AI role.
What are the main risks?Centralised data collection, limited worker participation in practice, dependence on one government, and claims about its achievements that outrun the evidence.Operates alongside US and Canadian governments, which limits its practical jurisdiction; its rule of unanimity within and between blocs requires broad agreement.CLM-0117CLM-0118Self-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.