Iceland: Youth Participation in Democratic Governance
Iceland faced a crisis in 2008 when its banking system crashed, leading to significant social upheaval. The government resigned, and a new administration listened to the people's demands for reform. One crucial change was the promise of a new constitution drafted by a directly elected Constitutional Assembly, breaking away from decades of unfulfilled pledges for constitutional revision.
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Iceland: Iceland: Youth Participation in Youth Participation in Democratic Governance Democratic Governance Annual Democracy Forum Annual Democracy Forum International IDEA International IDEA Santiago, Chile, 27 Santiago, Chile, 27- -28 November 2013 28 November 2013 Thorvaldur Thorvaldur Gylfason Gylfason
Beginnings: Pots and pans Beginnings: Pots and pans Iceland s banking system crashed in 2008 Iceland s banking system crashed in 2008 Biggest trauma in nation s history Biggest trauma in nation s history Existential threat Existential threat People took to the streets, young and old, banging their People took to the streets, young and old, banging their pots and pans, demanding action pots and pans, demanding action Government resigned Government resigned New post New post- -crash government listened to the people crash government listened to the people Admitted to mistakes and structural flaws Admitted to mistakes and structural flaws Offered to clean up the political culture Offered to clean up the political culture Promised reforms, including a new constitution Promised reforms, including a new constitution
New post New post- -crash constitution crash constitution When countries crash, it is natural to question their When countries crash, it is natural to question their constitutional foundations constitutional foundations Iceland has a provisional constitution from 1944 that Iceland has a provisional constitution from 1944 that failed to avert failed to avert executive overreach executive overreach at the expense of the legislative and judicial branches of government legislative and judicial branches of government Politicians promised a Politicians promised a constitutional overhaul constitutional overhaul for 70 years, but failed to deliver years, but failed to deliver Up against the wall after the crash, the government Up against the wall after the crash, the government admitted that the game was up admitted that the game was up Promised a new Promised a new people s constitution people s constitution drafted by a directly elected Constitutional Assembly, not by directly elected Constitutional Assembly, not by politicians or political appointees politicians or political appointees at the expense of the for 70 drafted by a
Peoples constitution: Why? People s constitution: Why? Two important reasons for having the Two important reasons for having the constitution written by the people written by the people rather than by politicians and rather than by politicians and their lawyers, one local, one universal their lawyers, one local, one universal Parliament s long Parliament s long- -standing failure to deliver standing failure to deliver Constitution is meant to limit the powers of parliament Constitution is meant to limit the powers of parliament and to lay out, and to lay out, inter alia inter alia, the method by which MPs are , the method by which MPs are elected, tasks that would create a elected, tasks that would create a conflict of interest assumed by parliament itself assumed by parliament itself Karl Popper (1966) put the question well: Karl Popper (1966) put the question well: How can we organize political institutions so that bad or How can we organize political institutions so that bad or incompetent rulers can be prevented from doing too much incompetent rulers can be prevented from doing too much damage? damage? constitution conflict of interest if if
Peoples constitution: How? People s constitution: How? Parliament decided to proceed in three steps Parliament decided to proceed in three steps Convene Convene National Assembly National Assembly 1,000 persons selected at random through stratified sampling 1,000 persons selected at random through stratified sampling Every Icelander 18 years or older had an equal chance Every Icelander 18 years or older had an equal chance Appoint Appoint Constitutional Committee Constitutional Committee to gather information, provide analysis, propose ideas provide analysis, propose ideas Seven members from different directions (law, literature, Seven members from different directions (law, literature, science), 700 science), 700- -page report page report Hold election of Hold election of Constitutional Assembly Constitutional Assembly representatives 25 representatives elected from among 523 candidates by STV 25 representatives elected from among 523 candidates by STV (Single Transferable Vote) method to minimize number of (Single Transferable Vote) method to minimize number of dead votes dead votes Good cross section of society, with education above average Good cross section of society, with education above average to gather information, representatives
Peoples constitution: What for? People s constitution: What for? People wanted change People wanted change Conclusions of National Assembly were cohesive and clear Conclusions of National Assembly were cohesive and clear Answers given by elected Constitutional Assembly members Answers given by elected Constitutional Assembly members to media were equally clear to media were equally clear Overwhelmingly, they favored Overwhelmingly, they favored Changing the constitution Changing the constitution Equal voting rights everywhere in the country Equal voting rights everywhere in the country Public ownership of natural resources Public ownership of natural resources More national referenda More national referenda Strengthening the right of the public to information Strengthening the right of the public to information Checks on the Minister of Justice s ability to appoint judges on Checks on the Minister of Justice s ability to appoint judges on his or her own his or her own Public opinion polls reflected similar sentiments Public opinion polls reflected similar sentiments
Peoples constitution: Content People s constitution: Content Assembly/Council had 4 months to do its work Assembly/Council had 4 months to do its work No problem No problem US constitution was written in 4 months in 1787 US constitution was written in 4 months in 1787 Strong emphasis on human rights, including equal Strong emphasis on human rights, including equal voting rights and national ownership of natural voting rights and national ownership of natural resources as well as on checks and balances resources as well as on checks and balances Preamble declares that Preamble declares that We, the people of Iceland, wish to create a just society We, the people of Iceland, wish to create a just society with equal opportunities for everyone. with equal opportunities for everyone.
Peoples constitution: Process I People s constitution: Process I Council decided to invite public to participate Council decided to invite public to participate There was interest: 522 persons ran for 25 assembly seats There was interest: 522 persons ran for 25 assembly seats This was a way to invite them, and others, to participate This was a way to invite them, and others, to participate Everyone was free to step forward and put suggestions on the table Everyone was free to step forward and put suggestions on the table Three overlapping rounds Three overlapping rounds Each week, Council posted on its Each week, Council posted on its interactive website new provisional articles for perusal by the public new provisional articles for perusal by the public 2 2- -3 weeks later, after receiving comments and suggestions from the public as 3 weeks later, after receiving comments and suggestions from the public as well as from experts, Council posted revised versions of those articles on the well as from experts, Council posted revised versions of those articles on the website website In a final round, proposals for changes in the document as a whole were In a final round, proposals for changes in the document as a whole were debated and voted upon article by article, and the final version of the bill was debated and voted upon article by article, and the final version of the bill was prepared prepared At the end of the last round, each article was approved by an At the end of the last round, each article was approved by an overwhelming majority of votes majority of votes interactive website, the first of its kind, some , the first of its kind, some overwhelming
Peoples constitution: Process II People s constitution: Process II Open invitation was well received Open invitation was well received Council received 323 formal proposals Council received 323 formal proposals All were discussed and answered by one of three committees All were discussed and answered by one of three committees Over 3,600 comments were posted on website by visitors Over 3,600 comments were posted on website by visitors Council representatives answered many if not most of them Council representatives answered many if not most of them Direct webcasts, also aired on TV, were regularly Direct webcasts, also aired on TV, were regularly watched by about 150 watched by about 150- -450 viewers 450 viewers Over 50 interviews with Council members and others Over 50 interviews with Council members and others concerned were posted on YouTube concerned were posted on YouTube They had, by late 2011, been viewed 5,000 times They had, by late 2011, been viewed 5,000 times
Peoples constitution: Process III People s constitution: Process III At the same time, many experts advised the Council At the same time, many experts advised the Council every step of the way every step of the way Lawyers and others Lawyers and others In meetings as well as in writing In meetings as well as in writing Council could not seek the advice of all available Council could not seek the advice of all available and eligible experts and eligible experts However, like everyone else, those who had points to However, like everyone else, those who had points to make were welcome to do so make were welcome to do so Council did not invite representatives of interest Council did not invite representatives of interest organizations to special meetings organizations to special meetings These organizations had same access as everyone else to These organizations had same access as everyone else to Council ( Council (e.g., bankers e.g., bankers, boat owners, environmentalists, , boat owners, environmentalists, farmers) farmers)
Peoples constitution: Lessons People s constitution: Lessons Lessons for other countries Lessons for other countries With the world s largest per capita number of internet With the world s largest per capita number of internet users, or 96%, compared with 81% in users, or 96%, compared with 81% in US and 61% in Chile Chile, Iceland s constitutional crowd sourcing may raise , Iceland s constitutional crowd sourcing may raise concerns about unequal access concerns about unequal access Unconnected 4% are disproportionately old people Unconnected 4% are disproportionately old people Democratic gains seem, however, to easily outweigh losses Democratic gains seem, however, to easily outweigh losses from slightly unequal access from slightly unequal access Applicability to less well connected countries is debatable Applicability to less well connected countries is debatable Can argue that the Can argue that the young, well young, well- -connected minority position to sway new constitutions in the public interest position to sway new constitutions in the public interest US founding fathers: US founding fathers: Every generation needs its own constitution Every generation needs its own constitution US and 61% in connected minority merits a good merits a good
Democracy on ice Democracy on ice Deeply democratic process by design Deeply democratic process by design National Assembly National Assembly Constitutional Assembly with crowd sourcing Constitutional Assembly with crowd sourcing National referendum in 2012 , decisive acceptance National referendum in 2012 , decisive acceptance 67% said Yes to the bill as a whole (voter turnout was 49%) 67% said Yes to the bill as a whole (voter turnout was 49%) 67% to 83% said Yes to individual key provisions 67% to 83% said Yes to individual key provisions Parliament failed to ratify the will of the people, Parliament failed to ratify the will of the people, putting the bill on ice putting the bill on ice Direct and dangerous affront to democracy Direct and dangerous affront to democracy Will have grave consequences if politicians persist in Will have grave consequences if politicians persist in disrespecting results of a national referendum disrespecting results of a national referendum If so, Iceland will never be the same If so, Iceland will never be the same My prognosis: My prognosis: Democracy will prevail Democracy will prevail
