[E-rundbrief] Info 1434 - Declaration on Modern Direct Democracy

[Matthias Reichl]

E-Rundbrief - Info 1434 - Democracy International: Tunis Declaration 
on Modern Direct Democracy.

Bad Ischl, 20.5.2015

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

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Tunis Declaration on Modern Direct Democracy

17-05-2015

More than 400 people from all over the world participated in the 
Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy that took place from 14 to 17 
May 2015 in Tunis, Tunisia. At the end of the world's biggest 
conference on direct and participatory democracy, the participants 
commonly declare...

"Tunisia is in transition.

So is direct democracy around the world.

We are Tunisians. We are Africans. We are Europeans. We are Asians. We 
are from the Americas. We come from all kinds of communities, from 
every corner of the globe, and from all walks of life. Among us are 
scholars, trade unionists, journalists, activists, campaign 
organizers, philanthropists, elected officials, election 
administrators, NGO leaders, lawyers, businesspeople, farmers, 
students, citizens, engineers, and the unemployed.

We have met for four days at the University of Carthage’s INAT campus 
to discuss direct democracy, participation and decentralization at a 
free and open forum in Tunis, Tunisia, to which the entire world was 
invited. Those of us who came from other places were impressed to 
learn more about the successes of the revolution and the progress 
Tunisia has made. We also were reminded that Tunisians have a very 
long way to go on their journey to a better democracy.

But don’t we all?

We see this shared journey as taking our societies not only from 
dictatorship to democracy but also from democracy to true 
participatory democracy. We know that representative democracy, while 
essential, is not enough by itself. We are in transition from 
low-turnout elections to robust new forms of participation that give 
us more power, but also ask more of us.

We believe that the development of democracy requires decentralization 
of power. And we know that such decentralizations are so challenging 
that participation must be more than a goal. Participation must itself 
be part of the decentralizing process at every level. And to make that 
a reality, we need better participatory tools -- and better 
assessments of how well direct democracy and other participatory tools 
work.

Participation requires more than words in a constitution, or 
provisions in a law. It requires a supportive infrastructure – freedom 
and transparency (especially to counter corruption) and secure spaces 
(including online) and independent citizen media and strong social 
movements and economic resources and civil society organizations -- 
that allow people to connect to each other, and to make their voices 
heard. We are encouraged by the articles on participation in the 
Tunisian constitution and by the Arab World’s first participatory 
budgeting experiments in Tunisian cities, but there is much more to be 
done.

Participation means that economic decisions, whether they involve the 
world’s largest trade agreements or small city trash services, are 
based on democracy, not money. Participation and democracy demand 
equality for all and leadership from all, especially for and from 
those who have been excluded in the past—most urgently the young and 
women. It is long past time for women to rule in democracy.

Let’s also be clear: We wholeheartedly reject the idea that democracy 
is a garment that only fits some people, or some societies, or some 
faiths. Democracy is a shirt that can stretch to fit us all.

There are people who have said that democracy is impossible in the 
Arab World. But here we are in Tunisia, the Arab World’s first 
democracy. There are people who say democracy and Islam are not 
compatible. But here, again, we are in Tunisia. And we have heard here 
that Islamic principles do not need to be in contradiction with 
democracy, and vice versa.

Direct democracy should have no single home. We hope and pray for the 
day when democracy resides wherever people form communities. Democracy 
must be the right and responsibility of every individual, whoever you 
are, whatever your economic or social status."

We offer this statement, the Tunis Declaration, on the 17th day of 
May, 2015. We welcome the suggestions, corrections, and contributions 
of the world.

http://www.democracy-international.org/tunis-declaration-modern-direct-democracy 



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Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
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