How each model solves the same problems
Instead of “democracy versus anarchism”, compare the concrete ways collective problems get solved.
| Question | + Model | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| How are decisions made? | Discussion aiming at policy-based consensus; administrators chosen by community review; policies edited by the community; movement-wide rules set by the Wikimedia Foundation. | 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. | |
| How are conflicts resolved? | Talk pages, noticeboards and page protection; the elected Arbitration Committee decides conduct (not content) cases and can ban editors or remove rights.Arbitration | 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. | |
| How are public goods funded? | A free encyclopaedia under a share-alike licence; the Foundation is funded by donations without advertising. | Covers the Welsh Ministers, local authorities, health boards, national park authorities and other listed bodies; public services boards plan locally. | |
| How is AI used? | Not part of governance decisions; bots and machine-learning tools help detect vandalism, and AI reuse of content is a policy debate. | No documented AI role. | |
| What are the main risks? | Editor decline and hostility to newcomers, systemic bias, capture of contentious topics, and conflict between community and Foundation. | Soft 'follow or explain' enforcement; procedural compliance; difficulty measuring long-term and preventative benefits. |
This illustrates differences in design; it is not a universal claim about outcomes. Each cell links to mechanisms and the claims behind them.