Country in focus: Ukraine. What about direct democracy?
In Country in focus, Democracy International takes a closer look at advances in modern direct democracy and citizen participation worldwide. After a break of several years, we are welcoming this section back! This month, the spotlight is on Ukraine.
Written by Anna Proskurina...
3 generations of Bulgarians have not made a direct and final decision: interview with Daniela Bozhinova, the Bulgarian MP
Daniela Bozhinova, a Board Member of Democracy International, is a democracy researcher, activist, writer and politician. She is a co-founder of the Green Movement party in Bulgaria and has served until recently as an elected city councillor in Burgas, Bulgaria. Currently, she...
The people of Berlin have decided - but in the end, nothing has been determined.
It is a rainy August day in 2022, I am standing on the Tempelhofer Feld in Berlin, a landmark of the city and of direct democracy (it was decided by referendum in 2014 that the field should not be built on) and I am collecting signatures to hold a referendum. Not for work, but...
Michigan citizens take matters into their own hands
When the US Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade in June 2022 and removed the federal provision to protect abortion rights, we saw a wave of frustrated motivation that echoed that of the election of he-who-shall-not-be-named. Reproductive and women’s rights issues became a top...
The Power of Youth
While Democracy International is losing its most senior colleague Klaus Hofmann, as an association we’re also happy to see our youth programme growing and growing. After being awarded the third prize of the European Parliament’s prestigious Charlemagne Youth Prize, we’re...
Failed referendums and direct democracy in Slovakia
On 21 January 2023, for the 9th time since the country’s independence in 1993, citizens were called to vote in a national referendum. This episode is the latest development in the political rift shacking the country.
Conference on the Future of Europe, but actually make it inclusive
Since 2019, we have reported extensively on the developments around the Conference on the Future of Europe, from our advocacy work with Citizens Take Over Europe to the monitoring of the actual European Citizens’ Panels on the ground....
Can we trust citizens to organise our power utilities through direct democracy?
There is a growing trend of remunicipalisation of utilities worldwide - citizens at local and regional levels reorganising utilities with the maximum aim of public interest in mind. Portland, one of the largest cities in the U.S state of Maine, is gearing up to take a citizens’...
A Road to Independence
In 1998, with the Scotland Act, the Parliament of the United Kingdom established the modern Scottish Parliament. Setting the legislative competence of the Scottish government, it allowed for certain level of self-governance and autonomy by devolved powers. Those are, however,...