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? | About 60 randomly selected residents learn, deliberate and vote; recommendations with at least 80% support are treated as binding on the mayor, lower ones as advice.Sortition / citizens' assembly | 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? | Facilitated small groups and supermajority voting; independent coordinators choose experts; disputes over competence end with other authorities. | 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? | City-funded process; outcomes direct municipal spending on flood retention, emergency help and clean-air measures. | 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 AI role. | No documented AI role. | No AI role. | |
| What are the main risks? | Binding force rests on a mayoral promise, not law; recommendations beyond municipal powers; irregular frequency. | 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.