Crisis of Democracy: “But it’s not too late“
Manfred Nowak is an Austrian human rights professor who served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture from 2004 to 2010. In this conversation with Democracy International, Manfred Nowak argues that democracy and the rule of law are currently facing a crisis globally...
Brexit shows: direct democracy needs long-term practicing
Gerhard Schuster currently works as Senior Campaign Manager of the "European Credit Initiative", a project that aims at granting the right to interest-free credits for enterprises that serve the common good.
The "right to credit" is to become EU law by means of a European...
Brexit triggers global debate on direct democracy
The decision by the British electorate to ”leave” the European Union has created worldwide momentum for discussing the options and limits of the initiative and referendum process – and a new start for launching transnational governance structures.
In this article Bruno Kaufmann...
"Brexit is unfair to other EU citizens"
Originally 7 June 2016 was supposed to be the last day citizens could register for the upcoming referendum on EU membership in the UK on 23 June 2016, now the deadline was extended until 9 June due to collapse of the registering portal. Not only are British citizens entitled to...
“Cameron acts like Britney Spears”
Democracy International in a conversation with Matt Qvortrup, a professor of political science at Coventry University and author of Referendums and Ethnic Conflict, on the upcoming EU referendum in the United Kingdom on 23 June 2016.
Democracy International in a conversation...
Initiative for basic income in Switzerland rejected
In Switzerland, citizens had until 5 June 2016 to make up their minds whether the principle of an unconditional basic income should be anchored in the constitution. The initiative was rejected as only 23 per cent voted in favour of it. Here you find the results of the five...
Lift of immunity - Turkey loses separation of powers
On Friday, 20 May 2016, 373 out of 550 Members of Turkish Parliament approved the draft of a bill to lift lawmakers’ immunity from prosecution. Democracy International explains why this means a huge danger to the separation of powers, a core principle of a parliamentary...
Taiwan To Free Direct Democracy After Power Change
Taiwan`s national legislature is about to liberalize existing restrictions on direct democracy mechanisms such as citizen initiatives, government referendums and recalls, reports Dennis Engbarth from Taipei.
Switzerland and the EU: Same democratic rights?
Whether on basic income or animal protection, social insurance or basic rights, citizens’ initiatives give the people a voice both in Switzerland and in the EU.
What Switzerland and Europe have in common – and where they differ
Whether on basic income or animal protection,...
Ally with us for more Transparency in the EU!
Democracy International and the Europe-wide network ALTER-EU are currently making use of an EU consultation to demand strict rules to prevent secret lobbying in the EU. Citizens from all across Europe are kindly requested to follow Democracy International's suggestions for a...