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?108 members chosen by civic lottery heard experts and voted by secret ballot, mostly in thematic groups, on options for reaching net zero.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.A statutory authority (UIDAI) under the central government sets rules; ministries decide where Aadhaar is required; Parliament legislated in 2016 and 2019.Digital identity
How are conflicts resolved?Professional facilitation, balanced expert leads, secret ballots recording levels of support; no formal channel for disputes with government.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.Grievance channels at UIDAI and service agencies; constitutional challenges in the Supreme Court, which ruled in 2017 and 2018.
How are public goods funded?Funded by the House of Commons (£120,000) and two foundations (£220,000 each); produced a public record of informed citizens' preferences on net-zero trade-offs.Covers the Welsh Ministers, local authorities, health boards, national park authorities and other listed bodies; public services boards plan locally.A universal, low-cost proof of identity used for welfare transfers, financial inclusion and public services.
How is AI used?No AI role.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.
What are the main risks?No duty on government to respond; remit too broad for six weekends; agenda set by organisers rather than members.Soft 'follow or explain' enforcement; procedural compliance; difficulty measuring long-term and preventative benefits.Exclusion through authentication failures, data leaks, surveillance and profiling, weak independent oversight and function creep.CLM-0544

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