Fr. 39.90

Erdem Ovacik, Erdem (Donkey Republic) Ovacik

Next Democracy - Reimagining How We Govern Ourselves Through Power of Data Markets

English · Hardback

Will be released 20.08.2025

Description

Explore why we feel stuck with our democracies, and radical new visions for governing ourselves and the planet
In The Next Democracy, social entrepreneur and Founder of Donkey Republic, Erdem Ovacik, delivers a startlingly insightful discussion of a new collective governance model based on markets and data that can improve our wellbeing as individuals, and as a society.
The author explains how we can develop the next generation of government that is data-driven, iterative, transparent, and that we decentrally and directly make laws online using prediction markets and delegative voting.
Using same principles of data and market, the author also explores delivery of public goods, where we link products and services' externalities to measurable metrics we care collectively care about altering business models, and removing the dichotomy consumerism and public service.
You'll explore how we can assign real value to our public goods, changing the way we think about valuation and budgets for public spending. Filled with case studies, illustrations, new governance models and frameworks, and key takeaways and summaries of each chapter, you'll also find:

A comprehensive explainer of the challenges caused by a collective inability to protect and deliver public goods
Discussions of how to develop transparent, decentralized institutions that align private and collective interests to deliver public goods using markets and data
An exploration of "Merit Democracy," a radically new form of democracy

Perfect for citizens who seek fresh visions for democracy, and young professionals and impact entrepreneurs who want to work towards creating impact. The Next Democracy is also a must-read for those who seek change through their investments to see the role they can play for a clear vision for a world we can all happily live in.

List of contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Exodus from populism

The growing mistrust in public governance

Digging into the representation problem

Qualities of good governance

Excessive inequality undermines democracy

Public goods: What Money Can't Buy

When Money No Longer Means Value

Tech Will Save Us: The Tech-Naive Story

Filling the void? Charity, impact-investing, corporate social responsibility

Our four economic hats: the consumer, investor, laborer and the citizen

Chapter 2: Democracy's crossroads: innovate or die

Innovating companies win, big time

Evolution thrives with experimentation

Getting innovation into the government

Dystopian outcomes of dysfunctional democracies

Chapter 3: Brewing change for legislation

Experiments with Voting

Participatory budgeting

Citizen Assemblies

Digital Changemakers from Wikileaks to LiquidDemocracy

DAOs - Decentralised Autonomous Organisations

Chapter 4: The struggle to deliver public goods

How did we get here

From leading to fire-fighting

The move towards privatization

Rethinking public procurement

Efficient but not effective

Buying goods from companies based on outcomes

Pricing what matters

Beyond ESG and CSRD

Chapter 5: Merit Democracy: The way forward

Holding ourselves accountable

Experimenting over forecasting

Embracing markets for public goods

Empowering public goods with (big) data

Transparency breeds legitimacy

An open and inclusive design

Chapter 6: Merit democracy in a bicycle

The front wheel: Legislation in Merit Democracy

Betting Can Save Our Democracy

The economy of citizen credits

Legitimacy through (liquid) voting

Measurement as underlying enabler

Envisioning a policy market to overcome loneliness

The back wheel: Delivery of public goods in Merit Democracy

Money - Value Alignment

Unleashing new business models

How to fund public goods

Envisioning a mobility impact market to overcoming car dependency

Envisioning a media impact market to overcome click bait culture

The handlebar: Taking ownership of our challenges

City, National/Federal, Global

The bike frame: Role of State in Merit Democracy

Chapter 7: Reasons to remain cautious

Digital literacy and access

Losing the personal touch

Limits to measuring

We should focus on degrowth

Fighting the enemy is priority

Prone to manipulation

Privacy and data safety

Trapped in siloed thinking

Experimentation is well worth the risks

Chapter 8: The Mission Ahead: Bend not Break

Change from within

But what can I do?

Getting political

One day in not so distant future

THE END