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?The president and RPF leadership set policy; a consensual multiparty forum, a parliament that rarely challenges the executive, national plans and annual performance contracts (imihigo) for officials.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?Courts subordinate to the executive in political cases; community mediators (abunzi) for local disputes; gacaca courts for genocide crimes (2005–2012).UnknownBalanced briefing materials, trained neutral moderators and competing experts structured disagreement.
How are public goods funded?Community health workers and near-universal health insurance, schooling, roads and electrification, financed by taxes, aid and RPF-linked investment companies.UnknownPrivately funded; produced published results, media coverage and a peer-reviewed study.
How is AI used?Digitised public services and drone delivery of medical supplies; no algorithmic political decision-making is documented.UnknownNo AI role.
What are the main risks?Dependence on one leader and party, repression that removes feedback, aid dependence, regional conflict in eastern Congo, and unresolved grievances that cannot be voiced.CLM-1146UnknownSelf-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.