Why do people do democracy? Why do so many states struggle to strip it back? Why did America erode it’s own democracy to the point it was no longer considered a Democracy in classical terms? What was the point of democracy anyway, and why is it even a good thing if everyone’s trying to get rid of it?
I’d love to see this game answer some of those questions by modelling what experts consider the future of democracy (as well as it’s benefits) and why that goal is so difficult that many forces of the free world appear reluctant to undertake the work.
These concepts were modelled in Democracy 3: Africa through the nature of that game’s “Democracy” simulation directly impacting the yield of political capital you were allowed. These additions are primarily an expansion of the game’s scope rather than a fix.
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New Simulation (blue bubble): Political Literacy - The level of awareness and understanding the electorate has for political events, discourse, theory, and history. A more politically aware electorate will have a higher turnout rate, but will be more judicious about what they vote for. Higher literacy also increases petitioning, protest action, and complacency.
(Raised by education, press freedom and democracy. Low political literacy increases the chance of Fake News. High Political Literacy reduces the effect of voter impressions, whereas low levels makes them more influential to the point that your electorate becomes less aware of the influencing values of actual policies and situations - a vital weapon of autocracy.)
(Suitably, Fake News should make riots, civil unrest and cyberwarfare more likely)
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New Situation (green bubble): Participatory Politics - A utopian situation earned as a result of nurturing political literacy and granting power to the electorate. The majority of your people feel direct responsibility for their country, and are motivated to assist the state in the rollout of their people-facing programs.
(Increases political capital (by an amount greater than that lost through democratic policies) and lowers complacency and tax evasion. Also lowers the cost of services that would benefit from volunteers such as Community Policing, Family Planning, Public Libraries, Recycling, Food Stamps and Social Care.) -
New Situation (green bubble): Technocracy - Your inclusion of qualified experts and aqcuiesence to the scientific community has made your country a functional technocracy.
(Pleases Liberals & Environmentalists, slightly reduces the costs of science funding and technology grants, and contributes to Technical Advantage. All ministers gain extra efficiency.)
New Policies: Future Democracy
- Voting Rights - A sliding scale determining the flexibility with which your electorate can vote, allowing election holidays, mail & electronic votes, and 2nd and 3rd choice votes.
- Devolution Structure - The degree of political power allowed by regional authorities and local governments. (lowers political capital, but contributes to participatory politics)
- Expert Committees - The funding and allowances granted for expert consultants and committees in support of your government. Higher levels allow for more authority. (Slightly reduces political capital but contributes to Technocracy)
- Representative Qualifications - determines the qualifictions necessary for someone to stand as a political representative, ensuring they are trained for their positions (High Political Capital cost but ontributes to Technocracy)
- Direct Democracy - The degree of petitioning and deliberation allowed to voters, granting them a degree of political control (High Political Capital cost but contributes to Participatory Politics)
- Participatory Civil Service - The practice of mandating a period of civil service work for all citizens. Students must complete placement periods with local government as part of legal education, and adults are selected to participate just as they are for Jury Duty. (High Political Capital cost. Increases Political Literacy and Participatory Politics)
- Employee Volunteering Program - Laws and incentives for employers to provide days of paid leave for employees to volunteer for various approved purposes. (Increases Charity, increases Participatory Politics. (No effect on Productivity, as the good PR and use of charitable manpower makes up for the days lost))
- Civil Right to Necessity - The constitutionalisation of your citizen’s right to food, water, clothing, hygiene, shelter and medical attention. (Pleases Liberals. Increases Equality and Human Development)
- Civil AI Systems
New Policies: Media Rights
- Free Press Subsidies - Subsidies to support the fragile industry of free press and publishing, motivating journalists to go on reporting the truth without the influence of the state, nor billionaire endorsement. (Reduces Fake News and Media Monopoly, increases Democracy and Political Literacy. Pleases Liberals)
- Media Impartiality Regulation - Laws preventing the broadcast of political bias or populism. Political issues are always fairly and intellectually represented on both sides, or political affiliations are witheld. (Increases Political Literacy, reduces Polarisation and Fake News.)
- Infotainment Grants - A fund to support the moral or educational value of popular media, leading to many cultural products having an economic incentive to teach. (Increases Culture, Education and Political Literacy)
I’m sure Cliff’s aware of the others I’ve blurted out on this forum