Source Reference: "Non-Revolutionary Development and Continuous Democracy"
About the Article
This concept builds upon ideas presented in the scientific article:
Stefanov Ya.N. "Non-Revolutionary Development and Continuous Democracy" Scientific-Literary Journal, No. 2(32)/2024 Lomonosov Moscow State University
The article proposes a theoretical model of a democratic system capable of self-transformation during normal operation without revolutionary destruction. The author calls such a system non-revolutionary.
Key Ideas from the Original Source
The Driving Force Behind Revolutions
The author analyzes the prerequisites for revolutions according to Lenin and Sharp and concludes that the key objective condition for an upheaval is the contradiction between the people and the government. Neutralizing this condition completely solves the problem of revolutionary situations.
Continuous Voting
To create a non-revolutionary system, the author proposes a continuous voting mechanism: a citizen can vote for a candidate on any working day. If the citizen previously voted for a different candidate, their vote is transferred. Competition between candidates continues constantly.
Inertia Through Point Accumulation
To protect against impulsive decisions, the system uses cumulative electoral point (EP) counting:
- Each day, the difference between the candidate's and the incumbent's vote percentages is calculated
- The difference accumulates (integrates) day by day
- To win, a candidate must reach a certain threshold (e.g., 3,700 EP)
- If the difference becomes negative, points are subtracted
Decisive Voting (Referendum)
The author describes the decisive voting procedure:
- Application and review — the question is checked for compliance with formal requirements
- Selection and approval — the question must gather support from 10% of voters
- Harmonization — legal refinement of the wording
- Voting — continuous voting with a participation threshold of 60%
What Was Taken from the Original Source
The following were borrowed from Stefanov's article for our concept:
- ✅ The concept of continuous voting — citizens vote at any time
- ✅ The principle of inertia — a cumulative mechanism protecting against impulsive decisions
- ✅ The idea of non-revolutionary change — the system must allow fundamental changes without violence
- ✅ Asymmetry analysis — the gap between 0.1% influence of the people and 100% influence of the government
What Was Changed and Added
Our concept significantly expands and modifies the original:
- 🔄 Removed the need for law approval — laws pass directly through continuous voting
- ➕ Blockchain and GPG cryptography — technological foundation for transparency and verification
- ➕ Vote delegation — the ability to delegate your vote to a trusted person with override rights
- ➕ Competency weight system — accounting for professional competencies in voting
- ➕ Peer-based competency assignment — professionals themselves determine each other's competency levels
- 🔄 Digital implementation — instead of physically visiting a "registration body," a cryptographic system is used
Bibliography of the Original Source
Stefanov's article references the following works:
- Tiruneh G. Social Revolutions: Their Causes, Patterns, and Phases. SAGE Open, 2014
- Goldstone Jack A. Toward a fourth generation of revolutionary theory. Annu. Rev. Polit. Sci., 2001
- Lenin V.I. May Day of the Revolutionary Proletariat. Moscow: Progress, 1968
- Sharp G. From Dictatorship to Democracy. The Albert Einstein Institution, 2010
- Dahl R. On Democracy. Yale University Press, 2000
- Hayek F.A. The Road to Serfdom. London: Routledge, 2006
- Mises L. Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis. Moscow: Catallaxy, 1994