The Potential Answer

It is time for a new political system in which the citizen has much more to say, acts as sovereign and also has corresponding powers. It is about sharing political power intelligently and introducing direct democratic elements. Democracy should not be an exception that takes place every four years, but the rule.

Important decisions should be made by the voters themselves. They must be enabled to make a decision based on balanced information.

The idea of a “Proxy Party” presented in these books would enable voters to do far more than organize themselves to put pressure on politics. It would allow its members to have a direct say. And this is badly needed to achieve a positive change.

The Books

Achieving True Democracy

A New Breed of Party as Realistic Next Step

An updated and refined shorter version about the Proxy Party as a parlamentarian champion for the people. Purely focused on the idea of the Proxy Party.

For reviewers: Download your ARC at Booksprout

Release Date: 2020-08-10

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Upgrading Democracy Book

Upgrading DEMOCRACY

Claiming a Say to Achieve True Democracy

The original and longer version about the Proxy Party as a parlamentarian champion for the people with a description of the current representational political system and its weaknesses and more details about the implementation of the Proxy Party.

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Testimonials

"The vision of a new party model by Peter Monien is well thought out and offers many starting points for making democracy more direct and taking advantage of technological progress. The book asks the right questions and approaches the question of more citizen participation at the federal level in a pragmatic and prudent manner. The model has the potential to make existing parties superfluous. - Let's project our preferences to the Parliament! By proxy party."
Mehr Demokratie Icon
Mehr Demokratie e.V., mdmagazine 3.2019
Germanies largest pro-democracy association
“Upgrading Democracy is an inspired reimagining of what the democratic process could be if we reorganize representation along truly decentralized, democratic lines. Peter’s work represents a practical, actionable way forward to achieve this most desperately needed of outcomes across every echelon of the disconnected global political scene.”  
Rich James, CEO Decentr
Rich James
Co-Founder Decentr.net

Content of the Book "Upgrading DEMOCRACY"

Preface to the English Edition of the book

Introduction

PART I – PROBLEMS

1. Crisis of Reputation

2. Representational weakness of the political system

3. Power and distance from the citizen

4. Power and lack of control
    4.1 Voting with integrated funeral
    4.2 Regulatory bodies and missing separation of powers
    4.3 The Executive extending its rights and powers

5. Established parties deciding in their own interest
    5.1 Party financing
    5.2 Post patronage

6. Influencing the representatives in a parliamentary democracy
    6.1 How many lobbyists are there?
    6.2 How can the lobbyists influence elected representatives?
    6.3 Whom will lobbyists influence?
    6.4 Are lobbyists to be rejected?

7. Influencing Voters in a Direct Democracy
    7.1 Direct bribery of individual voters
    7.2 Further influences on the individual voter
    7.3 Influenced by interest groups
    7.4 Influenced by statistics
    7.5 Influenced by media

8. Can we entrust this power to the citizen?
    8.1 Fears of the critics
    8.2 US study disproves the fears of critics
    8.3 Encouraging experiences with new participatory models
    8.4 (Is there a) Danger of oppression of minorities?
    8.5 Some important policy decisions

PART II – SOLUTION APPROACH

9. Not a new party but a new breed of party

     9.1 Trust alone, is not enough
     9.2 Proof trustworthiness

10. The proxy party as a way to direct democracy
      10.1 Why a proxy party?
      10.2 Proxy Party and proxy representative
      10.3 Proxy Party as a way to direct democracy
      10.4 Liquid democracy in the Proxy Party
      10.5 What are the tasks of the representatives?
      10.6 Does the party need an official leadership? Which tasks does this have?

11. Appointment of candidates
      11.1 Profile of direct candidates
      11.2 Profile of list candidates
      11.3 Appointment of candidates on the basis of a better voting system

12. Finding topics and voting on them

13. Core topics of the Proxy Party
      13.1 Grassroot democracy
      13.2 Transparency
      13.3 Media
      13.4 Complementing topics

14. Deducted core topics of an election program

15. Software systems for the Proxy Party
      15.1 Safety
      15.2 Member authentication
      15.3 Properties as a voting system and as a coordination system

16. Questions about the Proxy Party

17. Main potential attack vectors and defensive measures

18. Hasn’t this been tried and failed with the Pirates Party?

      18.1 Reasons for the rise and fall of the pirate party in Germany
      18.2 Self-reflection and outlook
      18.3 Deducted success factors for the Proxy Party
      18.4 How is the Proxy Party different than the Pirate Party?

19. Why isn’t it sufficient to vote single proxy representatives?

Conclusion: It’s about time