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? | 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 | A 30-member Lagting elected by proportional representation for four years; a government responsible to it. Acts of Åland can be vetoed by the President of Finland only on competence or security grounds. | 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? | Balanced briefing materials, trained neutral moderators and competing experts structured disagreement. | The joint Åland Delegation gives opinions on competence and finance; the Supreme Court of Finland may be consulted on vetoes. Amending the Act needs both parliaments. | Grievance channels at UIDAI and service agencies; constitutional challenges in the Supreme Court, which ruled in 2017 and 2018. | |
| How are public goods funded? | Privately funded; produced published results, media coverage and a peer-reviewed study. | Education, health, social services, culture and local policing are run by Åland, funded by a formula-based settlement and returned income and corporate taxes. | A universal, low-cost proof of identity used for welfare transfers, financial inclusion and public services. | |
| How is AI used? | No AI role. | No specific role for AI in the autonomy arrangement. | 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? | Self-selection into attendance; artificial setting; analysis by the method's designers; no institutional uptake. | Erosion of competences through state law or EU law; exclusion of newer residents by domicile rules; pressure on demilitarisation after Finland's NATO accession. | 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.