We propose a model and some design choices for building a mass online deliberation (MOD) system, aimed at supporting orderly, fair, inclusive and purposeful participation in decision-making within a very large community. We start with arguing that such a system is a necessary component of any large-scale system aiming at open and direct public participation. We also draw a list of requirements that such a system must satisfy, complemented by another list of preconditions for a productive deliberation to happen, and present the proposed model and technical solutions in detail.
A large-scale deliberation on a given issue, in a given community and at a given time progresses online, and goes through a number of phases, namely:
Depending on a given context of use, a final vote may be held either among the deliberants, or within the whole constituency (i.e. in a referendum). Or else, the final proposal(s) is/are submitted to the parliament or another decision-making body.
Cyril Velikanov is an EGOV Independent Consultant focused on the e-Democracy field and a member of the Memorial Society NGO from Moscow, Russia.
Campus de Couros, Rua de Vila Flor 166,
4810-445 Guimarães, Portugal
+351 253 510 850 (Mário Peixoto) | egov@unu.edu