Democratic Futures Prize Category
Submit your original short fiction that helps imagine a positive future for humanity that foregrounds the potential of collective self-governance —and actionable steps to get us there.
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Democratic institutions, values, and civic organization face opposition from authoritarians and skepticism from those who live with their failures. At the same time, new networking and decision-making technologies open new possibilities for collective participation in governance. Global society faces crises that transcend borders. If we are to survive and thrive, we need to deliberate on potential solutions, make decisions, and implement new solutions in ways that gather input from—and benefit—everyone.
Compelling narratives can share visions of the futures we want, and the work necessary to reach them. Democratic futures go beyond elections and votes. They follow the principle that decisions made for a society should be made by the members of that society, balancing broad-based input with protection of rights. History has shown the imagination required to expand—and the dangers of trying to curtail—who gets input and how, and what rights are protected for whom.
Democratic futures are deliberation-based:
there are ways for people to learn about, debate, and come to conclusions about major issues.
Democratic futures are consent-based:
people have some method of agreeing to the structures of decision-making, if not always the outcomes.
Democratic futures are constraint-based:
there are limits on what those in power can do, how long they can hold that power, and how they can hold onto it.
Why?
Today, corporations and authoritarians tell stories about the limits of democracy, and about trusting our decisions to strongmen and algorithms. These futures are not inevitable. Now it’s time to share your protopian visions for democratic futures.
We're looking for previously unpublished short fiction that:
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Incorporates positive visions of democratic futures at any scale – local, national, or global.
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Gives us a north star, and ideas for how to move towards it.
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Helps the public understand how we can shape democratic futures for the public good.
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Brings to life the complexities, tradeoffs and paths of action to maximize human flourishing.
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Inspires and empowers us all to imagine and create the futures we want.
Guiding Questions/Topics for Your Story
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How can new technologies enable greater collective participation in governance?
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What needs to happen to give society as a whole, rather than a few powerful players, the deciding voice on what kinds of new technologies get developed and how they’re used?
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What new rights do we need to articulate and protect in the face of new surveillance and control tools?
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How can we enable people to participate in informed deliberation on major issues, overcoming challenges of disinformation and burnout?
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How can we close the gap between collective decision-making and delivery of new services?
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What kinds of democratic futures would meet the challenges of global crises like climate change?