How can democratic innovations help create a healthier democracy for Wales?
Our new report, Fostering Democratic Innovations in Wales, produced in collaboration with Aberystwyth University and the Centre for Welsh Politics and Society, and co-authored by leading academics Dr Anwen Elias, Dr Eleri Phillips and Dr Jennifer Wolowic, examines democratic innovations put into practice across the world, and how they could be implemented in a Welsh context.
Democracy in Wales is not in good health: we have seen a particularly low turnout in recent elections, lack of knowledge of how government works, and diminishing trust in politics and politicians. Most people in Wales feel unable to influence the political decisions that impact their daily lives, and there is a general sense that life is not getting any better or easier. These challenges are not unique to Wales, and in response, we have seen a growing interest in finding ways to do democracy differently.
This report seeks to answer: how can we create a healthier democracy for all? It aims to raise awareness of democratic innovations by explaining what they are and how they add value to democratic politics. The report showcases best practice in the design and delivery of these innovations from countries, regions and communities across the world, and identifies steps for their implementation in Wales.
Most people in Wales feel unable to influence the political decisions that impact their daily lives, and there is a general sense that life is not getting any better or easier.
The report proposes the following actions to enable Wales to foster a more innovative democracy:
- A stronger and more co-ordinated effort to raise awareness of what democratic innovations are, and why they can help tackle the challenges to Welsh democracy.
- Further research to map and evaluate existing democratic innovations in Wales, in order to better understand existing strengths and identify barriers for broadening and scaling these approaches.
- A systematic and collaborative design-process that brings together key individuals and organisations to co-produce specific proposals for fostering sustained and impactful democratic innovations in Wales.
You can read the full report in English and in Welsh.
This report is part of the IWA’s wider work on ‘Fostering understanding and participation in Wales’ ongoing constitutional discussion’ which is funded by the Legal Education Foundation.
Image: Lee Jeffs, Unsplash