Rethinking Governance

Wed 3rd May 2023

The current governing systems in place which rely on bipartisanship and a left/right approach are clearly outdated and don’t have the capacity to support or represent the dynamic and global societies of today. It's often a frustrating and disillusioning experience that leaves many feeling powerless to shape our collective future. It’s time for us to rethink governance. It’s time for us to shift to a model that empowers citizens to debate, make informed decisions, and shape their destinies.

Examples of the limitations of current models are seen all over the world.

In the United States, the bipartisan model has led to increasing political polarisation. The government shutdowns, the inability to pass meaningful legislation and the growing lack of trust in institutions are all signs that the current model is not functioning.

In the UK, the Brexit referendum profoundly divided the country and highlighted a dangerous lack of transparency and accountability. This process cemented the fact that the system was not adequate to respond to the complex and dynamic needs and desires of citizens.

In France, the country's entrenched political elite, embodied by the "Enarques" - a small, elite group of graduates from the country's top schools - has led to a political culture seen as detached from the realities of everyday citizens.

Citizens in all other parts of the world are also increasingly critical of their deeply flawed political systems that fail to adequately represent the needs of their diverse communities. 

So why continue when we have many successful examples of citizen-led governance that we can look to for inspiration? Iceland and Ireland, for instance, have implemented constitutional reform processes that involve diverse citizen assemblies drafting new constitutions and making recommendations on important key societal matters. In Iceland, the new constitution was supported by a 67% majority of Icelandic voters, while Ireland's Citizens' Assembly has led to historic policy changes on topics such as abortion and climate change.

Citizen leadership is a powerful and inspiring force in shaping democratic societies. It is dynamic and open to easily adapt to the needs of each community, society or nation. All around the world, the examples are strong, the interpretations and models are multiple and the successes are numerous.

Participatory budgeting for example allows citizens to have a direct say in public spending. The process invites community members to discuss and deliberate on how best to allocate funds to a variety of projects and initiatives. This model was successfully implemented in cities like Porto Alegre, Brazil where it led to a better distribution of public and collective resources. 

Co-creation is another model that emphasises citizen participation in policy and program design. In Amsterdam, for example, citizens are actively involved in designing and implementing sustainable transportation initiatives. The city collaborates with a diverse pool of citizens to identify and address challenges such as congestion and air pollution. Through this collaborative process, Amsterdam has become a global leader in sustainable urban development.

Deliberative polling involves a random sample of citizens gathering to discuss and deliberate on important policy issues. The insights and recommendations from these discussions are then used to inform policy decisions. This approach is being used increasingly. Austria is a great example where deliberative polling was used to address the issue of smoking in public places. Citizens were able to discuss various policy options and this led to the implementation of a smoking ban in restaurants and bars. In Denmark, a similar process brought together a diverse group of citizens to discuss and deliberate on the country's energy policy. As a result, the country substantially increased its funding for renewable energy. In both cases, the deliberative polling process led to the design of informed and citizen-led policy-making.

Open government is an approach that focuses on transparency and accessibility in government decision-making processes. Countries like Estonia have become leaders in e-governance and digital citizenship. The e-Estonia program, which provides citizens with secure and easy access to government services and information is a great example to mention. This model led to a palpable increase in citizen participation in decision-making and a greater trust in public and governing institutions.

There are also great and inspiring examples of citizen leadership that have happened globally during the last century.

During the 1990s, The Zapatista movement advocated for indigenous rights and land reform for indigenous communities in Mexico. They have created autonomous zones where communities govern themselves through direct democracy and collective decision-making processes. This model showcases the importance of local knowledge and community-led decision-making in governance.

The Mondragon Corporation in Spain in the 1950’s is an inspiring model for worker-owned cooperatives around the world. The corporation is owned and governed by its workers, who elect representatives to manage the company. This innovative approach around worker-owned cooperatives provided workers around the world with a model that allows greater autonomy and leadership in shaping their working conditions.

These examples demonstrate the diverse ways in which citizen leadership can be successfully integrated into governing systems. Whether through participatory budgeting, co-creation, deliberative polling, open government, or alternative models like the Zapatista autonomy movement and the Mondragon Corporation, citizen participation and leadership are crucial in creating more equitable and democratic societies.

With this in mind, it’s clear that today we need a radical reinterpretation in our collective perception of local, national, and international roles of governing institutions, from one of "ruling" to one of "serving". 

One potential solution is to create a "House of Citizens" that works alongside traditional government bodies, with randomly selected citizens representing diverse segments of society.

This model will of course need a significant shift in our common understanding of democracy and governance. It will need to be supported by a real commitment and investment in civic education. This is the only way to equip all citizens with the skills and knowledge required to participate meaningfully in debate and decision-making. Governing institutions would become service providers, tasked with carrying out the decisions of the “House of Citizens”. 

This is a complex and ambitious vision with fundamental questions that need to be explored collectively and carefully with key societal stakeholders.

How can we ensure that a “House of Citizens” truly reflects the diversity of its constituents? What role should traditional political parties play? How can this process redistribute power without dismantling or dismissing key expertise within governing institutions? How can this shift be led in an inclusive way that rebuilds bridges and connections around clear and uncompromising values?  

Today, we have an incredible opportunity to rethink, reshape and reform the system by putting Citizens In Power. We can create a dynamic, equitable, and sustainable future for all by prioritising and investing in responsible, educated and empowered citizens who can grasp complex global matters, lead key decision-making processes and build truly participatory communities. Now is the time.

Author’s note

My name is Saad Eddine Said and I am the CEO and Artistic Director of New Art Exchange, Nottingham, the Co-Chair of the national ‘Contemporary Visual Art Network’ and Co-Director of Citizens In Power. I am passionate about culture and creativity and believe it is the most inspiring and powerful tool we have  to reshape a better future for the world.

In this essay, I explore the importance of rethinking global decision-making models. I argue that the current governing systems, which rely on bipartisanship and a left/right approach, are outdated and unable to represent the diverse and dynamic societies of today. This can lead to feelings of powerlessness and frustration among citizens who are unable to shape their collective future.

This article highlights the need for a shift towards citizen-led governance, which empowers individuals to make informed decisions and shape their destinies. Examples of successful citizen-led governance exist worldwide, demonstrating the limitations of current models and the potential for positive change.

I strongly believe that embracing such changes in leadership models is crucial to creating a fair and equitable society, where everyone can realise their potential and contribute to innovation, collectivity, and creativity. Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts on this topic. I hope this article inspires us all to rethink and reimagine a future for all.