Stories

Digital Democracy and e-Governance
Digitalisation Can Divide Us or Empower Democracy — We Decide
Town halls are moving online, we are able to sign petitions from the comfort of our own homes, and collective action can suddenly start with a simple hashtag. Whether it is better connectivity, the ability to strengthen networks...
IDC Theme of the Month
Digital Democracy & e-Governance: How Digital Tools are Reshaping Citizen Participation in the 21st Century
On the International Democracy Community (IDC) platform, we're introducing monthly themes inspired by the ideas and interests you shared in our recent survey. We're kicking things off with the theme Digital Democracy and e-...
Taiwan
Taiwan: No To Casinos, Yes To Direct Democracy
Seven years after a first popular vote, the citizens in Taiwan`s offshore Penghu archipelago confirmed their...
Switzerland
Welcome To A Direct Democratic Hybrid
Welcome to the Swiss municipality with a democratic secret: in Arth-Goldau in central Switzerland citizens...
Korea South
How The Ballot Selfie Movement Changed Korean Democracy
For decades older voters in Korea gave the conservative majority a big advantage - and a majority in the...
Colombia
The Reasons Behind the Failure of the Colombian Peace Plebiscite
Everything about Colombia´s plebiscite for peace was unexpected. Not just the dramatic result - a rejection...
Switzerland
Townhall Meetings: Pre-modern Direct Democracy Updated
Town hall meetings in Switzerland are generally poorly attended, undermining their political legitimacy....
Switzerland
Direct Democracy and Human Rights as Partners
Parliaments and governments must listen closer to citizens and less to lobbyists of the military-industrial...
Global
Voting Until You Get The Result You Want
The excessive use of top-down popular votes across Latin America has become a sign of democratic weakness. ...
Switzerland
Towards a National Youth Parliament
In Switzerland there are 66 youth parliaments at the local and cantonal level. Although in many cases they...
USA
Global Outlook: Challenging Autumn Of Citizens Decisions
Four more months to go in 2016 and one billion citizens around the globe are about to make their voices heard...
USA
California´s Coming Election Has More in Common With Brexit Than You Think
For a century, politicians in the most populated US state have relied on government-triggered initiatives and...