Biel (Bienne, in French) is best-known for being the capital of Swiss watchmaking and for being the biggest bilingual town in the country.
Direct Democracy and Ballot Initiatives articles on Democracy Chronicles
This section has the latest DC news on direct democracy, something akin to a pure democracy, a form of democracy whereby people decide policy initiatives directly as opposed to a representative democracy. Cooperatives (Co-ops), Democratic Workplaces, Collectives, Communes, Intentional Communities, Referendums and Ballot Initiatives are also featured right here until we build more content for this neglected area of democratic experimentation. Also see our section on American democracy and get more info at Voting Methods Central.
Casting Doubt on Swiss Reverence of Direct Democracy
The symbolic value of citizen participation in decision-making should not be underestimated, the actual importance of direct democracy in Switzerland.
How the Swiss Militia System Underpins its Direct Democracy
Politics as a part-time job: That’s the idea of the militia system. Thousands of Swiss officials have a normal occupation and do politics on the side.
Learning From the Success of NYC’s Participatory Budgeting Program
NYC’s Participatory Budgeting program is the second oldest in the USA and it’s by far the largest, with it affecting the lives of four million residents.
PODCAST: Using the Tools of Democracy to Address Economic Inequality
As the gap between rich and poor widens, so too does trust in political institutions and faith in democracy itself. Democracy is opposite to inequality.
More Swiss Cantons Joining After First Blockchain Vote Success
Swiss authorities in the canton of Zug “announced that the Alpine nation’s first local blockchain-based test vote had been successfully completed.”
Europe’s Populist-Leaning Voters Really Just Want Direct Democracy
Populist parties are on the rise in most European countries. But the citizens that back them also support more direct democracy. Do they deliver it?
Thoughts on Eliminating Political Parties
The danger is not in partisanship, it is in allowing partisans to control government. The question is how do we accommodate partisanship in our political infrastructure, without allowing parties to control the process?
Participative Democracy is Best Approach For Poverty Eradication in India
Participative democracy could make policies more efficient for poverty eradication in India, but only when there is no asymmetry of information.
Reflections From Around the World on Participatory Budgeting
The International Observatory on Participatory Democracy conference was in Barcelona where PB was explored, how it can be used and what its limitations are.