Political and trade union federations and associations are made up of members with widely differing skills, interests, opinions and ideas. Digital democracy makes it harder for management to overrule its members. Everyone's voices can be heard and given their due.
Many committed grassroots feel that the leaders of their parties and unions do not listen to them. A high-profile study showed that there is an average difference of opinion of 13 percentage points between representatives in the Riksdag and ordinary voters. The researchers concluded that a random sample of 349 people in the population almost always led to lower differences in opinion [1]. One example is that voters in Sweden want to limit welfare gains, but the party leaders do not. [2] Another issue is NATO, where the party leaders of the red-green parties decided at short notice to join despite the fact that a majority of their voters were against it.
With good digital democracy tools, the grassroots can meet, discuss, coordinate and express their collective views on important issues. Both for annual meetings and congresses, and as a quick reaction to important decisions being weighed by management. When the grassroots can come together and express their will on a digital democracy platform, it becomes black and white if the leadership is planning to overrule its grassroots, making such a decision harder to take. Digital democracy can be used all year round to mobilize and engage members When everyone's knowledge and potential is harnessed, the whole movement together will make better and wiser decisions than if a small elite at the top is in charge.
Referenser
[1] David Karlsson (2018). ”Företrädarskap i riksdagen”.
ALL CHANGE STARTS WITH YOU!
The Digital Democracy Association is a non-profit association that is religiously and politically independent. It aims to support and promote effective democratic organisation of people at all levels: from small networks and organisations at grassroots level to large companies, political parties and organisations at national and international level.
Its ultimate goal is a world in which everyone's influence and participation is maximised in a way that is compatible with high flexibility, efficiency and power to act in human co-operation and organisations. The Association's sub-goals are to (i) develop innovative open-source tools for digital democratic organisation (ii) disseminate knowledge and stimulate interest in effective democratic decision-making and organisational practices (iii) support organisations and companies to improve their internal democracy.
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