Halcyon Identifies

 

A new website invites the public to share their opinions on everything from business to politics to world events.

University of the People claims to be the world’s first tuition-free, online academic institution dedicated to the global advancement and democratisation of higher education.

Problems - 30/01/08

• Democracy/Human Rights - a new report warns that, by allowing autocrats to pose as democrats, some important western democracies risk undermining human rights worldwide.

Problems - 06/01/08

• Democracy - an authoritative ranking of the world's most and least democratic nations indicates that only 28 countries can be classified as "full democracies".

Responses - 17/11/07

• Civility/Democracy - an ambitious new survey of public opinion around the world contains findings of potentially great interest to the world's citizens and policymakers alike.

Problems - 10/11/07

• Democracy/Openness - are we living increasingly in a "you can't say that" culture, in which even in mature democracies fighting for free speech still matters?

Responses - 24/09/07

• Democracy - can "deliberative democracy" overcome a recurring problem of public consultation - i.e. if you ask elites, you may get deliberation without equality, but if you ask the people directly, you may get equality without deliberation?