Creating a mindmap | by chdot  By chdot

Democracy and Participation

We envisage a political culture where everyone has the skills, the information, the opportunities and the right to contribute to solving society’s problems. We create tools for groups of people to learn about, discuss and decide on complex issues.

In the democracy of ancient Athens, for the free adult males who had the right to vote, taking part was not just a right but a duty. Citizens were expected to participate in discussing and deciding about vital issues. Politics was a part of everyday life.

Fast-forward to today’s professionalised and stage-managed democracy. Modern politics is the business of an elite of elected representatives and ordinary citizens are not offered a place at the table. People do not feel that their views and interests are being recognised in the processes of political decision-making. We find ourselves in a vicious circle where exclusion leads to apathy and apathy to exclusion. Citizens feel they have no role in politics except to stand on the sidelines, shouting. And politicans feel that people can't or won't contribute.

At nef, we design new tools for people to take part in democratic decision-making. Our tools are:

  • Open – anyone can use them without possessing require special skills or privileged invitations.
  • Deliberative – they inform participants and give them the opportunity to discuss their views.
  • Democratic – they enable people to have their say in a way that feeds back into the greater discussion

Key facts

  1. 1
    Turnout in general elections dropped by more than a fifth from 1992 to 2005.
  2. 2
    Membership of the main political parties has fallen by more than three quarters since 1964
  3. 3
    But 50% of all Britons volunteer regularly and the number is rising

Projects

  • People playing a Democs game | by Andrea Bandelli

    Democs

    Democs is a new way to help people to talk about politics. It’s a game-like process which gives players all the information and structure they need to share ideas on difficult issues.

  • A key hanging on a nail | by Daniel*1977

    Open Up

    Open Up is an innovative tool that uses pictures, diagrams and images to help individuals explore the different aspects of a complex policy problem.

  • Crowd Wise logo

    Crowd Wise

    A new way for people to come together to talk about their ideas and make decisions.

  • The High Line in New York City

    The Great Transition

    Finding ways to survive and thrive through financial crises, climate change and the peak and decline of global oil production.

Publications