Polity Atlas

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?Members or trustees set rules for access and use; models range from cooperatives with one vote per member to public trusts.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?UnknownBalanced briefing materials, trained neutral moderators and competing experts structured disagreement.
How are public goods funded?Pooled data for research, mapping and public services, with licences that keep the resource open or collectively controlled.Privately funded; produced published results, media coverage and a peer-reviewed study.
How is AI used?UnknownNo AI role.
What are the main risks?Re-identification, capture by large users, volunteer burnout and unclear legal duties of data stewards.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.