Democratic Decision-making Process Research Articles

ONLINE VOTING SYSTEM

With rapid growth in technologies the old voting methods can change to advanced voting methods. Online voting software is a modern solution that can efficiently and securely facilitate the voting process for various groups and organizations. The use of such software eliminates the need for physical polling stations, as voters can cast their ballots from anywhere with an internet connection. The benefits of using online voting software are many; it increases accessibility, saves time and resources, ensures accuracy and transparency, and supports a more democratic decision-making process. Eligibility verification and accurate voter information are essential components of a successful online voting platform. While several countries have already implemented online voting software, this approach still faces challenges and limitations that must be addressed before universal adoption. In the following sections, we will delve further into the various types of electronic voting methods and examine successful global examples of online voting. We will also discuss current trends and future developments in online voting software provide a comparison between online and traditional voting methods. KEYWORDS: Django , Python, DBSqlite3, Bootstrap, Webauth, Charts.js, HTML, JS, CSS.

Deliberative Democracy and Making Sustainable and Legitimate Development Plans: The Case of the Antalya Kırcami Agrihood

The objective of this study is to examine the process of land-use change through the lens of the preferences of local actors in the Kırcami Agrihood. Our main focus is to investigate whether the decision-making mechanisms used in the Kırcami development plan (i) are carried out in accordance with deliberative democracy and (ii) whether they are true, systematic, and typical tools of deliberative democracy. To do so, in-depth interviews were conducted with local actors, namely residents, investors, and local government, and their preferences and views regarding urban agriculture and the decision-making process were examined through discourses. Our first finding is that very few tools of deliberative democracy are used in the making of the Kırcami development plan, and they are not idealised tools. Our second finding is that less than half of residents and investors participate in these flawed democratic decision-making processes; thus, the transformative power of deliberation does not function in the Kırcami case. Finally, deliberative democratic tools are not incorporated into Turkish legislation at both local and national levels. We conclude that these three issues should be addressed, and genuine tools of deliberative democracy should be used to make the Kırcami development plan more sustainable and legitimate.

A Transaction Cost Approach to the Role of Cooperatives in Energy Transition

Purpose - This paper investigates how community-based approaches to renewable energy help in to substitute renewables for fossil fuels in Europe in the context of transaction costs.
 Design/Methodology/Approach - This paper uses qualitative research methods, which feature online interviews focusing on 14 REScoop.eu member cooperatives and organizations, four non-REScoop.eu organizations, and a complementary online survey of 32 respondent REScoop.eu member cooperatives.
 Findings - The paper finds that (a) cooperative legal form is not seen to generate the perceived advantages to cooperatives in renewable energy proliferation, or (b) in addressing associated land use issues; further (c), there a perception that renewable energy cooperatives directly help in renewable energy proliferation by localizing energy production and stimulating the local economy (d) by making renewables more acceptable at the local level, and (e) by building trust-based relationships within these communities. It is also perceived that (f) such cooperatives are hampered by the general lack of corresponding professional and technical expertise, volunteer work, and the democratic decision-making process.
 Research Implications - The major implication is that localization is key for renewable energy cooperatives to be significant drivers of renewable energy in Europe. The paper contributes insights on cooperative organization form itself, and by addressing how transaction costs help in renewable energy proliferation.

Moral and Democratic Society System in Twain’s The Man Who Corrupted Hadleyburg

This article sought to explore moral and democratic society systems within Mark Twain's short story "The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg" using a descriptive methodology. The source of data in this research was the text of the short story itself, while to support the data, the writers encompassed relevant information related to the research, including literary theory and sociological perspectives on literature. The data collection process involved in-depth reading, transcription of pertinent quotations from the story to support the research, and systematic categorization. Through genetic structuralism as the analytical framework, this study revealed the moral criticism and democratic society system as the central themes, manifesting through key characters such as Edward Richard, Reverend Burgess, and other supporting figures. In Twain's "The Man Who Corrupted Hadleyburg," a profound exploration of moral criticism and democratic societal systems unfolds. The narrative delves into the intricacies of character morality, exposing the vulnerabilities of individuals and the democratic decision-making processes within the framework of Hadleyburg's society. The reactions of Hadleyburg's residents to the sudden influx of gold served as a noteworthy concluding point, shedding light on the broader societal implications within the narrative. In essence, this research illuminates the multifaceted layers of social criticism embedded in "The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg," offering a nuanced understanding of the moral, societal, and individual dimensions explored by Mark Twain in this literary work.

Only losers use excuses? Exploring the association between the winner-loser gap and referendum attitudes following a local referendum

ABSTRACT Consultative referendums are becoming more widely used as a way of responding to rising public discontent with the workings of representative democracy. Consequently, consultative referendums have become an integral part of democratic decision-making processes across the world. However, how the population reacts to the referendum outcome is expected to differ among the population as referendums, by design, divides the participants into winners and losers. In turn, creating a winner-loser gap with potentially polarizing societal consequences. This study therefore seeks to explore how this winner-loser gap is associated with several types of referendum attitudes following the outcome of a local referendum. Using survey data (N = 3113) gathered after a high stakes local referendum in Finland, the more explicit research purpose is therefore to analyze how individual-level opinions about referendums, turnout thresholds and margin of victory thresholds are related to the winner-loser gap. Additionally, we also control for whether these associations are moderated by external efficacy and political trust. The results clearly imply that the winner-loser gap have consequences for several types of referendum attitudes, contributing to scholarship about the effects derived from the winner-loser gap.

Ways towards Transformation—Conceptual Approaches and Challenges

This Special Issue brings together three fields of problem-oriented research, all addressing the current challenges of our society from different perspectives and respective research traditions, namely: technology assessment (TA), responsible research and innovation (RRI), and sustainability research. In this introductory paper, we point out that these approaches, nevertheless, face similar challenges observing and shaping the current transitions of our society. Conceptual and methodological commonalities and differences in the three approaches comprise issues of normativity in research activities, the interference with democratic decision-making processes, methods and approaches to cope with the expectations of society as well as dealing with the uncertainty and complexity of knowledge. The article closes with a reflection on considerations and decisions of relevance as an overarching challenge for all three concepts.

(Ri) educate to Political Participation: The Democratic Challenge

In recent decades, an increasingly significant break in the bond that binds politics and subjects has been affirmed. An increasing number of citizens have distanced themselves from politics and its party drift and have ceased to recognize themselves in it and in its institutional representatives. This process has pushed the subjects towards individualistic orientations and privatization of the experience. The increasingly low level of political culture of the citizens, both outcome and cause of the growing disaffection and deresponsibilization, exposes to the risk of an increasingly demagogic, populist and low democratic policy. The last decades, therefore, have undermined the conditions for the existence of a “critical citizen”, a priority objective to ensure fully democratic decision-making and government processes. The goal of a full and widespread democratic participation requires training courses of political culture, starting from a rethinking and a redesign of the times and spaces of training so that widespread conditions of learning knowledge and skills elicitation for a full voice are guaranteed Keywords: democracy, participation skills, third spaces, cities, complexity

Virus taxonomy and the role of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV).

The taxonomy of viruses is developed and overseen by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), which scrutinizes, approves and ratifies taxonomic proposals, and maintains a list of virus taxa with approved names (https://ictv.global). The ICTV has approximately 180 members who vote by simple majority. Taxon-specific Study Groups established by the ICTV have a combined membership of over 600 scientists from the wider virology community; they provide comprehensive expertise across the range of known viruses and are major contributors to the creation and evaluation of taxonomic proposals. Proposals can be submitted by anyone and will be considered by the ICTV irrespective of Study Group support. Thus, virus taxonomy is developed from within the virology community and realized by a democratic decision-making process. The ICTV upholds the distinction between a virus or replicating genetic element as a physical entity and the taxon category to which it is assigned. This is reflected by the nomenclature of the virus species taxon, which is now mandated by the ICTV to be in a binomial format (genus + species epithet) and is typographically distinct from the names of viruses. Classification of viruses below the rank of species (such as, genotypes or strains) is not within the remit of the ICTV. This article, authored by the ICTV Executive Committee, explains the principles of virus taxonomy and the organization, function, processes and resources of the ICTV, with the aim of encouraging greater understanding and interaction among the wider virology community.

Inherent Tolerance of the Democratic Process

Recent attempts at making sense of toleration as an ideal of political morality have focused on how liberal democratic institutions generate political arrangements that protect people’s freedom to “live their life as they see fit.” We show how these views rely on a one-dimensional interpretation of the liberal democratic political project. In so doing, they underestimate an important “interactive” dimension. This dimension concerns what it means for liberal democracies to realize toleration as a property inherent to their constitutive political processes. We illustrate this claim with reference to the liberal democratic decision-making process. Such a process realizes toleration as forbearance in itself. It does so because it establishes the participants in the process as political agents who recognize their mutual standing to share the political authority to make collectively binding decisions, despite their grounds for reciprocal objection.

EXPECTED IMPACT OF DECENTRALIZATION USING BLOCKCHAIN BASED TECHNOLOGIES

The anticipated impact of decentralization through blockchain-based technologies is poised to bring transformative changes across various domains. By leveraging the inherent features of blockchain, such as transparency, security, and decentralization, the financial landscape is expected to witness increased inclusivity. Blockchain's ability to facilitate peer-to-peer transactions globally, without the need for traditional banking intermediaries, holds the promise of reducing transaction costs and enhancing financial accessibility, particularly for the unbanked and underbanked populations. The implementation of smart contracts, self-executing agreements governed by code, is expected to automate and streamline complex financial processes, reducing the reliance on centralized authorities. Furthermore, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) could revolutionize governance structures, allowing for more democratic decision-making processes. Global access to capital is likely to expand through decentralized fundraising mechanisms, democratizing investment opportunities and fostering innovation on a global scale. The focus on privacy and data ownership in blockchain-based systems is expected to empower individuals with greater control over their personal information, challenging the conventional model of centralized data control. Additionally, the resilience and immutability of blockchain contribute to the integrity and reliability of financial records. As decentralized technologies continue to evolve, their impact is not limited to the financial sector but extends to various industries, promoting economic empowerment and reshaping traditional business models. While the potential benefits are substantial, addressing regulatory challenges and ensuring user education will be critical for the successful integration of decentralized technologies into mainstream practices.

Examining the antecedents and outcomes of smart government usage: An integrated model

Smart government is viewed as the highest modernization stage of public agencies. Governments seek to employ disruptive technologies to substantially transform government-citizen relationships, enhance citizens’ experiences, transform public decision making, emphasize citizen engagement in the democratic decision-making process, provide more agile and resilient government structures, create substantial public value and generally improve quality of life. Despite its numerous potential advantages, smart government is still in its early phases of development. Examining issues related to the usage behavior of smart government services has received little attention. Outcomes of the usage of online technologies in general, and electronic public services in particular, have been largely overlooked. Accordingly, this study aims at developing and empirically validating an integrated model of smart government usage by extending the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) through the incorporation of a set of determinants and outcomes of smart government usage following an extensive review of extant literature. The data were obtained from 414 smart government clients in the United Arab Emirates through an online questionnaire and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results of this study indicated that, among all significant antecedents of smart government usage, performance expectancy has the strongest impact, whilst facilitating conditions has the weakest influence. It has been also reported that personalization has no significant effect on smart government usage. The results further revealed that the strongest impact of smart government usage is on information transparency. Implications for theory and practice are also offered.

Ethical Prioritization of Patients to CAR T-Cell Therapies: Tool Development and Process

Introduction: CAR T-cell therapy is a novel and expensive anti-cancer treatment marked by limited availability and an expanding eligible patient population. This situation requires an ethical framework and priority-setting process to guide fair allocation of limited healthcare resources. The purpose of this health services and quality initiative was to develop an ethical prioritization tool to support oncology clinicians in making fair and equitable decisions about patient prioritization to CAR T-cell therapies. Methods: Accountability for reasonableness (A4R) is a well-developed ethical approach to resource allocation when there are values-disagreements between stakeholders about the principles that should govern priority setting. A4R supports a democratic decision-making process, enabling stakeholders to agree on what is legitimate and fair, rather than articulating principles that should govern decision-making a priori. Key elements of the process include: transparency about the rationale for decisions, rationales and evidence that all can accept as relevant to meeting health needs fairly, and procedures for revisiting decisions. Following the A4R approach, we engaged a strong multi-disciplinary team to form a CAR T-cell therapy Ethics Working Group that included physicians, nurses, patients, coordinators, social work, managers, operations, flow, quality, bioethics, and fellows/trainees. Stakeholders from the myeloma, lymphoma and leukemia programs were represented. Through two deliberative events and one patient focus group we established an ethical framework, prioritization tools based on the ethical framework, and an assessment process to support fair and equitable decision making. Results: Stakeholders agreed the following ethical principles are relevant to the decision-making process: beneficence, non-maleficence, equity/consistency, stewardship, autonomy, evidence-informed, and utility. Beneficence and non-maleficence were identified as inherent to the process and equity/consistency and stewardship were also identified as extremely important, especially as more patients become eligible for CAR-T cell therapy. Stakeholders then identified prioritization criteria and categorized them into four major themes: medical benefit, safety/risk of complications, medical urgency, and psychosocial factors. Although the relative weights were not determined, the sequence of application of these criteria were deemed important. Determination of medical benefit was primary, as no patient should proceed further if they did not have any potential for medical benefit. Safety/Risk and psychosocial evaluation would follow using existing tools (e.g., ECOG) and allowing for summative objectives, when possible. Lastly, medical urgency as defined by rapid pace of disease progression, refractoriness to prior therapy, and development of serious disease-related complications, was considered critical in prioritizing patients for therapy. However, stakeholders agreed and cautioned that medical urgency does not equate medical benefit, as patients with rapidly expanding disease and acute deterioration frequently have dismal outcomes, despite all attempts to expedite their treatment course. Recognizing the importance of sequencing in the assessment of criteria, stakeholders developed a 3-Step assessment process: (1) Medical Benefit Assessment, (2) Safety/Risk and Psychosocial Assessment and (3) referral to the Cell Therapy Review Committee for review and prioritization based on medical urgency. Patients who may gain medical benefit, have reasonable risk of toxicity, and have adequate psychosocial capacity and support from Steps 1 and 2, proceed to 3 where consensus decisions are documented on an existing intake form. Conclusions: An ethical framework to support CAR T-cell priority-setting is necessary to ensure transparent and equitable decision making, thus allowing fair patient access to these important therapies. It also enhances the cancer care experience for all by promoting public trust and confidence in the healthcare system and therapeutic relationships by ensuring that decisions are based on sound rationales and that individual clinician biases are minimized.

Moral and Ethical Principles in Emergencies (Towards the Рrinciples of Safety and Acceptable Risk)

The possibility of scientific substantiation of moral and ethical principles in emergency situations (emergencies) is considered. The search for decision-making criteria in conditions of uncertainty and lack of information and knowledge is carried out. The process of expert assessment of emergencies is analyzed, the democratic decision-making process by majority vote, which does not take into account "special opinions", is questioned. The importance of evaluation is emphasized: the prices of an incorrectly made decision. The conclusion is made in favor of a decision with full consensus, which allows avoiding unnecessary casualties and large damages in an emergency.

The electoral success of social media losers: a study on the usage and influence of Twitter in times of elections in Paraguay

In recent years, social media has become increasingly relevant in democratic decision-making processes, such as referendums or elections. Recent investigations have raised the concern of social media misuse in attempts to manipulate the public opinion and influence results, undermining the foundations of democracy. By analyzing the use of Twitter during the 2017/2018 presidential elections in Paraguay, this study provides empirical evidence and analysis about the role of social media on political campaigns. In a departure from other countries in the region, dominance in this network did not correlate with elections results. The results we highlight in this article, therefore, challenge the impact of social media on elections, offering an interesting view of their role in Latin America countries, like Paraguay.

Governance of Responsible AI: From Ethical Guidelines to Cooperative Policies

The increasingly pervasive role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our societies is radically changing the way that social interaction takes place within all fields of knowledge. The obvious opportunities in terms of accuracy, speed and originality of research are accompanied by questions about the possible risks and the consequent responsibilities involved in such a disruptive technology. In recent years, this twofold aspect has led to an increase in analyses of the ethical and political implications of AI. As a result, there has been a proliferation of documents that seek to define the strategic objectives of AI together with the ethical precautions required for its acceptable development and deployment. Although the number of documents is certainly significant, doubts remain as to whether they can effectively play a role in safeguarding democratic decision-making processes. Indeed, a common feature of the national strategies and ethical guidelines published in recent years is that they only timidly address how to integrate civil society into the selection of AI objectives. Although scholars are increasingly advocating the necessity to include civil society, it remains unclear which modalities should be selected. If both national strategies and ethics guidelines appear to be neglecting the necessary role of a democratic scrutiny for identifying challenges, objectives, strategies and the appropriate regulatory measures that such a disruptive technology should undergo, the question is then, what measures can we advocate that are able to overcome such limitations? Considering the necessity to operate holistically with AI as a social object, what theoretical framework can we adopt in order to implement a model of governance? What conceptual methodology shall we develop that is able to offer fruitful insights to governance of AI? Drawing on the insights of classical pragmatist scholars, we propose a framework of democratic experimentation based on the method of social inquiry. In this article, we first summarize some of the main points of discussion around the potential societal, ethical and political issues of AI systems. We then identify the main answers and solutions by analyzing current national strategies and ethics guidelines. After showing the theoretical and practical limits of these approaches, we outline an alternative proposal that can help strengthening the active role of society in the discussion about the role and extent of AI systems.

Impacts of decision-making process on social justice in the infrastructure equity in Ethiopia

Equity concerns the distribution of resources and is inevitably linked with concepts of fairness and social justice. What are the decision-making processes for fair allocation of infrastructure resources and its effect on social justice in Ethiopia? The article uses structural equation modeling-partial least square software for analysis. Therefore, the article finds that there is infrastructure inequity and social injustice owing to a lack of democratic decision-making and accountability in Ethiopia. Moreover, the Ethiopian government lacks the tools and institutions that provide the foundation for good decision-making processes and democratic accountability. There also exists a low level of social cohesion in Ethiopia today. Hence, the government needs a democratic decision-making process that would bring diverse interests together and solve the lack of intergovernmental relations (IGRs) as well as the lack of democratic accountability to improve citizens’ justice in the infrastructure sector in Ethiopia. As a result, it requires a focus on regional governments’ needs, reacting to their concerns, and keeping them justified on the equitable distribution of infrastructure across regional states in the country. This will also help to save Ethiopia from bloody conflicts. Points for practitioners In practice, the drive for public management is to increase the quality and efficiency of government-provided services. Professions in government agencies, public enterprises, and trusts that deal with policies and strategies that govern the equitable allocation and administration of public resources make up the public management and administration pathway. As a result, the most important takeaway for professionals is that creating a learning organization is a significant management strategy that public organizations must pursue in exercises.

Politics and corona lockdown regulations in 35 highly advanced democracies: The first wave

This article gives an initial overview of the explanatory power of established approaches in comparative political science of various lockdown strategies in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic in 35 democracies. In a macro-comparative statistical analysis of the first wave of the pandemic, I test partisan and veto player theories. I distinguish two phases of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which show distinct patterns of political impacts. In the first phase of implementing lockdown strategies, central governments were relatively uncontested and partisan theory has strong explanatory power. In the second phase of lifting lockdowns, party differences lose relevance, but veto players have a strong influence during this time. The analysis shows that political science theories are useful for analysing political processes not only under normal conditions but also in extreme social crises. Moreover, it provides deeper insights into the democratic decision-making process of advanced democracies in exceptional situations.

The preparation for entry into adulthood - supported decision-making in upper secondary school for students with intellectual disability

ABSTRACT The upper secondary school for individuals with intellectual disability should prepare for an adult life as an active citizen with great self-determination and participation in democratic decision-making processes. The extent to which and in what way the schools work to prepare the students and develop their skills are likely of great importance for the students’ adult life. The purpose of the study was to increase the knowledge of how students with intellectual disability in Sweden are prepared for adulthood, with special focus on self-determination. Case studies on three schools were carried out through observations of decision-making processes and interviews with students and staff. The main findings consist of three different approaches to self-determination for students with intellectual disability: ‘Targeted and Conscious’, ‘Forward with Uncertainty’ and ‘Braking and Protecting’. Increased knowledge about, and analyses of, the processes that take place when young people with reduced decision-making capacity, due to intellectual disability, make decisions with the support of others are important. Implications underline the need to strengthen the awareness, knowledge and support of school staff when it comes to strengthening students’ decision-making capacity. The students with intellectual disability need to be equipped for a society where they as adults will be surrounded by choices and expectations of making decisions.

Community Participation as Power Distribution: Insight into Law and Practice in Sheka Forests Conservation

Community participation is a pillar principle in democratic decision-making processes. It is redistribution of power among public institutions, officials and people. With regard to forest conservation, Ethiopian laws and practices in Sheka Zone were examined by using Sherry Arnstein’s model of citizen participation. We argue that community participation recognized in the FDRE Constitution falls under the fifth rung of the ladder of citizen participation: placation. In pursuits of forest conservation, the right of citizens to have their views and opinion be taken into account is not guaranteed. The practice in Sheka Zone ignores the role of community participation, and it does not go beyond the rung of informing. This rung is a stunted one-way communication, and the community members in the Sheka Zone were simply informed about what is planned. Qualitative methodology is employed including legal analysis and literature review with some data collected through interviews, FGD and observation.

Activist Surfing-based Groups in the Tourism Transition: Localism and Universalism in the French Basque Country

The concept of tourism transition was developed in the 1990s and 2000s by scholars working on winter sports in Alpine resorts. It refers to the economic and social changes taking place in relatively small resort towns as the result of tourism development. While mountain tourism causes conflicts between stakeholder groups, this paper demonstrates that tourism in seaside resort towns can also be a source of controversy. In coastal cities of the French Basque Country, tourism development is primarily managed by local government representatives, yet contested by pressure groups. This paper analyzes the two activist groups Save Marbella (SMG) and Paddle-out For Your Planet (POFYP), founded by surfers in Biarritz, France. It is based on observation of and interviews with SMG and POFYP members. Whilst acknowledging the difference between these two groups, this work indicates that surfers’ environmental activism often comes from their subjective and intimate relationship with the ocean. This paper argues that participants’ emotional bond with nature fosters environmental awareness and that their intimate relationship with the ocean is the primary cause of political activism. As surfers report facing fear, disgust and anxiety when they encounter ocean pollution and environmental degradation resulting from mass tourism, research has also shown that they feel compelled to protest and demand that policymakers include their considerations in democratic decision-making processes.