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?Workers or citizens vote on firm leadership, sit on boards or govern funds that own capital.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' assemblyEach listed body sets its own well-being objectives and steps; the Welsh Ministers publish national indicators and a future trends report after each election.
How are conflicts resolved?UnknownBalanced briefing materials, trained neutral moderators and competing experts structured disagreement.The Commissioner may review a body and recommend; the body must take reasonable steps to follow or publish reasons (s 22). The Auditor General examines application of the principle.
How are public goods funded?Shared ownership spreads returns on capital; co-operatives can anchor employment locally.Privately funded; produced published results, media coverage and a peer-reviewed study.Covers the Welsh Ministers, local authorities, health boards, national park authorities and other listed bodies; public services boards plan locally.
How is AI used?UnknownNo AI role.No documented AI role.
What are the main risks?Capital constraints, degeneration into conventional firms, insider bias and political backlash.Self-selection into attendance; artificial setting; analysis by the method's designers; no institutional uptake.Soft 'follow or explain' enforcement; procedural compliance; difficulty measuring long-term and preventative benefits.

This illustrates differences in design; it is not a universal claim about outcomes. Each cell links to mechanisms and the claims behind them.