title: Democracy without voting

authors: Munn, Nicholas

subjects: Democracy

abstract: Both epistocrats and lottocrats claim that democracy itself is problematic. They set themselves the task of providing a plausible alternative system. However, many of the problems they identify arise not from democracy as such, but from certain instantiations of it. When and how people vote; how many people choose not to vote; and how much the people who do vote know, are all subjects of criticism in this literature. In this paper I outline a democratic system which retains features such as majority rule and secrecy regarding the expressed preferences of citizens, but eliminates voting. I argue that this approach can achieve many of the benefits ascribed to epistocratic or lottocratic systems without importing their flaws.

text: Democracy without voting Both epistocrats and lottocrats claim that democracy itself is problematic. They set themselves the task of providing a plausible alternative system. However, many of the problems they identify arise not from democracy as such, but from certain instantiations of it. When and how people vote; how many people choose not to vote; and how much the people who do vote know, are all subjects of criticism in this literature. In this paper I outline a democratic system which retains features such as majority rule and secrecy regarding the expressed preferences of citizens, but eliminates voting. I argue that this approach can achieve many of the benefits ascribed to epistocratic or lottocratic systems without importing their flaws.

year: 2019

title: Urban narrative: Computational linguistic interpretation of large format public participation for urban infrastructure

authors: Dyer, Mark

abstract: Urban Narrative works at the interface between public participation and participatory design to support collaboration processes for urban planning and design. It applies computational linguistics to interpret large format public consultation by identifying shared interests and desired qualities for urban infrastructure services and utilities. As a proof of concept, data was used from the Christchurch public engagement initiative called ‘Share an Idea,’ where public thoughts, ideas, and opinions were expressed about the future redevelopment of Christchurch after the 2011 earthquakes. The data set was analysed to identify shared interests and desired connections between institutional, communal, or personal infrastructures with the physical urban infrastructures in terms of buildings, public places, and utilities. The data has been visualised using chord charts from the D3 JavaScript open source library to illustrate the existence of connections between soft and hard urban infrastructures along with individual contributions or stories. Lastly, the analysis was used to create an infographic design brief that compares and contrasts qualitative information from public consultation with quantitative municipal statistical data on well-being.

text: Urban narrative: Computational linguistic interpretation of large format public participation for urban infrastructure Urban Narrative works at the interface between public participation and participatory design to support collaboration processes for urban planning and design. It applies computational linguistics to interpret large format public consultation by identifying shared interests and desired qualities for urban infrastructure services and utilities. As a proof of concept, data was used from the Christchurch public engagement initiative called ‘Share an Idea,’ where public thoughts, ideas, and opinions were expressed about the future redevelopment of Christchurch after the 2011 earthquakes. The data set was analysed to identify shared interests and desired connections between institutional, communal, or personal infrastructures with the physical urban infrastructures in terms of buildings, public places, and utilities. The data has been visualised using chord charts from the D3 JavaScript open source library to illustrate the existence of connections between soft and hard urban infrastructures along with individual contributions or stories. Lastly, the analysis was used to create an infographic design brief that compares and contrasts qualitative information from public consultation with quantitative municipal statistical data on well-being.

year: 2020

title: Maori perspectives of the environment: A review of policy submissions made by iwi to Environment Waikato.

authors: Whangapirita, Laura

subjects: Maori

abstract: As part of our broader brief to gather, summarise, analyse and distribute information held by Environment Waikato on Maori and the environment, we evaluated and summarised those iwi policy submissions made toward the Proposed Waikato Regional Plan (1998). This report refers to values and beliefs sourced from iwi submissions held by Environment Waikato and are presented within a Maori values framework to highlight environmental perspectives of tangata whenua in the Waikato region.

text: Maori perspectives of the environment: A review of policy submissions made by iwi to Environment Waikato. As part of our broader brief to gather, summarise, analyse and distribute information held by Environment Waikato on Maori and the environment, we evaluated and summarised those iwi policy submissions made toward the Proposed Waikato Regional Plan (1998). This report refers to values and beliefs sourced from iwi submissions held by Environment Waikato and are presented within a Maori values framework to highlight environmental perspectives of tangata whenua in the Waikato region.

year: 2003-10