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?Residents propose capital projects; city services check feasibility and merge ideas; residents vote online and in person; winners are built by the city.UnknownA 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?Administrative review and committee merging of similar ideas; disputes over eligibility are settled by the city.UnknownBalanced briefing materials, trained neutral moderators and competing experts structured disagreement.
How are public goods funded?A share of the municipal investment budget funds playgrounds, schools, greening, sport and cycle facilities, with an earmark for working-class neighbourhoods.Participatory budgetingUnknownPrivately funded; produced published results, media coverage and a peer-reviewed study.
How is AI used?No AI role.UnknownNo AI role.
What are the main risks?Low and socially skewed turnout; administrative agenda control; projects substituting for ordinary spending; narrowing of eligible categories.UnknownSelf-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.