Beyond the ballot: 57 democratic innovations from around the world

Abstract

The aim of this study is to provide The Power Inquiry - an independent inquiry into Britain's democracy - with details and assessments of democratic innovations that might increase and deepen citizen participation in the political decision-making process. The study analyses fifty-seven different innovations – eleven of these are considered in more depth in case studies. The innovations are assessed according to the following criteria: selection mechanism, form of involvement, role in decision-making, scale and transferability, and resource implications. The innovations are categorised, described and assessed under the six headings:electoral innovations, consultation innovations, deliberation innovations, co-governance innovations, direct democracy innovations and e-governance innovations.