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?Usually a founder or founding family; some adopt written constitutions and online elections.Each listed body sets its own well-being objectives and steps; the Welsh Ministers publish national indicators and a future trends report after each election.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?Internal rules without external enforcement; disputes with host states go to national courts.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.Balanced briefing materials, trained neutral moderators and competing experts structured disagreement.
How are public goods funded?Few; symbolic goods such as flags, stamps and passports.Covers the Welsh Ministers, local authorities, health boards, national park authorities and other listed bodies; public services boards plan locally.Privately funded; produced published results, media coverage and a peer-reviewed study.
How is AI used?No inherent AI role; some online micronations experiment with digital citizenship.No documented AI role.No AI role.
What are the main risks?No legal recognition, prosecution for tax evasion, fraud and removal by force.Soft 'follow or explain' enforcement; procedural compliance; difficulty measuring long-term and preventative benefits.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.