Beyond Efficiency: Reimagining Democracy Through Citizen Power

Across the world, trust in governments is in freefall. Current responses from across the political spectrum focus on technology-enabled government efficiency, with DOGE only the highest profile of a swathe of initiatives, from the United States to Argentina to the United Kingdom. Yet, there are few signs that such efforts are turning the tide; in many cases, the result has arguably been to deepen distrust.

This event marks the launch of a new Ash Center Occasional Paper by Visiting Fellow Jon Alexander, which argues that the truly meaningful agenda for government transformation lies not in efficiency, but in citizen empowerment. Drawing on examples from Taiwan’s world-leading COVID-19 response to participatory budgeting in countries from Portugal to Mexico, citizens’ assemblies in Ireland and France and community wealth building in Scotland and South Korea, as well as a growing wave of initiatives across the United States, the paper makes the case for the creation of Departments of Citizen Empowerment (DOCE) at every level of government.

The discussion will explore what this transformation of government could look like in practice—shifting from government as service provider to government as facilitator of collective intelligence. Speakers will share pioneering research highlighting the citizen appetite for an agenda of citizen empowerment, examine where such an agenda is already taking hold and reflect on what it would take to bring it to scale as a transformative response to collapsing trust.

Speakers Include:

• Jon Alexander, Visiting Fellow, Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation
• Gretchen Barton, Founder and Principal, Worthy Strategy Group
• Graça Fonseca, Former Minister of Culture and Secretary of State for Administrative Modernisation, Portugal
• Aaron Maniam, Fellow of Practice and Director, Digital Transformation Education, Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University
• Yazmany Arboleda, Founder, The People’s Creative Institute, and People’s Artist, the New York City Civic Engagement Commission
• Archon Fung (Moderator) Director, Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Harvard Kennedy School of Government

Event Details

This event requires registration.

The Ash Center encourages individuals with disabilities to participate in its events. Should you wish to inquire about an accommodation, please contact our events team at info@ash.harvard.edu.

Additional questions? Email the Ash Center events team at info@ash.harvard.edu.