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?Layered: states plus regional and global bodies; a UN assembly would start as consultative (campaign proposal).A statutory authority (UIDAI) under the central government sets rules; ministries decide where Aadhaar is required; Parliament legislated in 2016 and 2019.Digital identityA 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?International courts and a constitutional rule of law at global level, in the model's own design.Grievance channels at UIDAI and service agencies; constitutional challenges in the Supreme Court, which ruled in 2017 and 2018.Balanced briefing materials, trained neutral moderators and competing experts structured disagreement.
How are public goods funded?Regulation of transnational problems such as climate change, nuclear proliferation and financial markets.A universal, low-cost proof of identity used for welfare transfers, financial inclusion and public services.Privately funded; produced published results, media coverage and a peer-reviewed study.
How is AI used?No documented AI role.No AI in decision-making as such; automated biometric matching and deduplication decide authentication, and face authentication was added in 2018.No AI role.
What are the main risks?States reluctant to cede sovereignty; unclear route to adoption; unequal representation across very different populations.CLM-0326Exclusion through authentication failures, data leaks, surveillance and profiling, weak independent oversight and function creep.CLM-0544Self-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.