Stories - Direct Democracy

Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy photo

Beyond Elections: What We Learned Together in Botswana

From 7–10 October, 150 participants from five continents and over 30 countries gathered in Gaborone for the...

Iceland and EU flags

Iceland Said No to EU Talks. There Is No Need to Panic.

I’ll admit it. I would have preferred a different result. On 29 August, Icelanders voted 52.8% to 47.2%...

Image of Botswana

A Beacon in the South: Why Botswana Is the Right Home for the 2026 Global Forum

Ahead of the 2026 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy, Democracy International looks at the country that...

A Referendum to Reclaim Citizen Power?

When people lose faith in their leaders, can they rewrite the rules that govern them themselves? Bangladesh...

France's Direct Democracy Debate: A Battle Won and Lost

A groundbreaking proposal to give citizens real power is shaking up French politics, and the battle lines...

United States of America

COLUMN: Both Sides of This Campaign Tell the Same 2 Lies

Why the Yes and No Campaigns on California's Prop 50 Both Deserve to Lose

Democracy Is Not on My Ballot

Reading ballot measures reveals an intent to confuse

COLUMN A Local Measure for a New Political Era

Local politicians risk their power to create more colleagues

COLUMN Stop the Democracy In-Fighting

We need democracy ecosystems, not democracy waves.

Local Measures Need a Counter

Two contradicatory ballot measures teach us better than one