A collection of stories about participatory democracy and our collective ability to reimagine what democracy looks like between and beyond election cycles.
Introducing… Beyond ElectionsWhat if democracy could be so much more than what we think it is?
Pam Bailey
Violence is a Community Problem that Must be Solved by the CommunityResidents in Yumbo, Colombia, brainstorm solutions to urban violence
Pam Bailey
Zimbabwe NGO Helps the People Take Charge of Climate Resilience Zimbabwe’s climate strategy isn't responsive to rural communities; Green Institute engaged citizens to change that.
Ben Wrobel
Humanqind's Vision: Children Co-Designing Safer StreetsRuchi Varma has a vision for designing safer school zones that involves asking children as young as nine what they should look like
Proximate
Extinction Rebellion Is Calling for Citizens Assemblies. Here's Why.Citizens' assemblies are on the agenda for the political group
Pam Bailey
Citizens’ Assemblies Picking up Steam in UKRichard Wilson, of Iswe Foundation, predicts in The Guardian that in its first 100 days, the Labour government will announce a citizens’ assembly.
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Let’s Integrate Participatory Budgeting and Citizens’ AssembliesThe two most important democratic innovations of the last 30 years have developed in parallel but not in unison
Nick Vlahos
When Will the United States Start Taking Citizens’ Assemblies Seriously?Citizens’ assemblies are increasingly popular in Europe and Canada. But not in the United States. How come?
Pam BaileyExtinction Rebellion Is Calling for Citizens Assemblies. Here's Why.Citizens' assemblies are on the agenda for the political group
Pam Bailey.webp)
In Conflict Zones, Could Democracy Work Without Elections?Iain Walker offers on the role of participatory democracy in areas without a working government – and why attempts to solve conflicts often fail
Proximate
Can Participatory Budgeting Revive Trust in Brazil's Democracy?Months after the attack on the National Congress, President Lula is betting on a new digital platform to give citizens a voice in their democracy
Marcela MartinsTrust in democracy is near an all-time low in countries around the world. We’re inspired by an emerging network of pro-democracy activists who argue that one way to save liberal democracy is to return to democracy’s roots: to encourage public participation in the democratic process.
We’ll write about participatory democracy from all angles, exploring models like participatory budgeting, citizens’ assemblies and legislative theater that give everyday people a chance to decide over the future of their communities.
Proximate is an independent media platform covering movements for participatory problem-solving. We look at the news through the lens of money: how it’s given away, how it’s invested, and how it’s distributed by government.
We are a fiscally sponsored project of Movement Strategy Center.
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