Liquid democracy Cover Image

Płynna demokracja
Liquid democracy

Author(s): Marcin Piechocki
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Uniwersytet Adama Mickiewicza
Keywords: demokracja; płynna demokracja; demokracja przedstawicielska; demokracja bezpośrednia; new media; Internet; network society; democracy; liquid democracy

Summary/Abstract: The advancements in new communication techniques facilitate the political participation of all citizens wishing to exercise it. Various ideas applied by the new media are conducive to the development of civic society and deliberative democracy. The end of the monopoly of traditional, or mainstream media allows alternative discourses to emerge, having formerly been denied presence in the media. Various groups can also emerge to finally participate in public debate. As participation in debate is conditioned on interactivity, the Internet and various platforms serving debating and decision-making are increasingly applied by both businesses and state institutions. Liquid democracy is a way of combining direct democracy with representative democracy. Applications allowing citizens to initiate, track and participate in debate facilitate maximum citizen involvement in public affairs. Therefore, liquid democracy provides an opportunity to implement the ideal of each citizen’s actual participation in the decision-making processes, the lack of which is frequently cited by young people, first and foremost, who feel discouraged from participating in elections. They do not undermine the idea of democracy but contest its current shape and form.

  • Issue Year: 2013
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 25-38
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Polish