The Next Democracy

Explore why we feel stuck with our democracies, and radical new visions for governing ourselves and the planet

In The Next Democracy, social entrepreneur and Founder of Donkey Republic, Erdem Ovacik, delivers a startlingly insightful discussion of a new collective governance model based on markets and data that can improve our wellbeing as individuals, and as a society.

The author explains how we can develop the next generation of government that is data-driven, iterative, transparent, and that we decentrally and directly make laws online using prediction markets and delegate voting.

Using same principles of data and market, the author also explores delivery of public goods, where we link products and services' externalities to measurable metrics we collectively care about altering business models, and removing the dichotomy of consumerism and public service.

You'll explore how we can assign real value to our public goods, changing the way we think about valuation and budgets for public spending. Filled with case studies, illustrations, new governance models and frameworks, and key takeaways and summaries of each chapter, you'll also find:

• A comprehensive explainer of the challenges caused by a collective inability to protect and deliver public goods
• Discussions of how to develop transparent, decentralized institutions that align private and collective interests to deliver public goods using markets and data
• An exploration of “Merit Democracy,” a radically new form of democracy

Perfect for citizens who seek fresh visions for democracy, and young professionals and impact entrepreneurs who want to work towards creating impact. The Next Democracy is also a must-read for those who seek change through their investments to see the role they can play for a clear vision for a world we can all happily live in.

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 Exodus From Populism 7

The Growing Mistrust in Public Governance 15

Digging Into the Representation Problem 24

Qualities of Good Governance 32

Excessive Inequality Undermines Democracy 41

Public Goods: What Money Can’t Buy 50

When Money No Longer Means Value 55

Tech Will Save Us: The Tech-Naive Story 58

Filling the Void? Charity, Impact-investing, Corporate Social Responsibility 64

Our Four Economic Hats: The Consumer, Investor, Laborer, and the Citizen 70

Chapter 2 Democracy’s Crossroads: Innovate Or Die 75

Innovating Companies Win, Big Time 80

Evolution Thrives with Experimentation 82

Getting Innovation into the Government 86

Dystopian Outcomes of Dysfunctional Democracies 94

Chapter 3 Brewing Change for Legislation 97

Experiments with Voting 101

Participatory Budgeting 104

Citizen Assemblies 107

Digital Changemakers from WikiLeaks to Liquid Democracy 110

DAOs – Decentralized Autonomous Organizations 114

Chapter 4 The Struggle to Deliver Public Goods 121

How Did We Get Here? 124

From Leading to Fire-fighting 127

The Move Toward Privatization 129

Rethinking Public Procurement 131

Efficient but Not Effective 133

Buying Goods from Companies Based on Outcomes 135

Pricing What Matters 139

Beyond ESG and CSRD 143

Chapter 5 Merit Democracy: the Way Forward 147

Holding Ourselves Accountable 150

Experimenting Over Forecasting 152

Embracing Markets for Public Goods 159

Empowering Public Goods with (Big) Data 164

Transparency Breeds Legitimacy 167

An Open and Inclusive Design 169

Chapter 6 Merit Democracy in a Bicycle 173

The Front Wheel: Legislation in Merit Democracy 176

Betting Can Save Our Democracy 178

The Economy of Citizen Credits 185

Legitimacy Through (Liquid) Voting 190

Measurement as Underlying Enabler 195

Envisioning a Policy Market to Overcome Loneliness 197

The Back Wheel: Delivery of Public Goods in Merit Democracy 200

Money–Value Alignment 200

Unleashing New Business Models 205

How to Fund Public Goods 208

Envisioning a Mobility Impact Market to Overcoming Car Dependency 210

Envisioning a Media Impact Market to Overcome Click Bait Culture 214

The Handlebar: Taking Ownership of Our Challenges 217

City, National/Federal, Global 220

The Bike Frame: Role of State in Merit Democracy 224

Chapter 7 Reasons to Remain Cautious 227

Digital Literacy and Access 228

Losing the Personal Touch 229

Limits to Measuring 230

We Should Focus on Degrowth 233

Fighting the Enemy Is Priority 234

Prone to Manipulation 236

Privacy and Data Safety 237

Trapped in Siloed Thinking 238

Experimentation Is Well Worth the Risks 239

Chapter 8 The Mission Ahead: Bend Not Break 243

Change from Within 246

Digital-born Alternatives 251

But What Can I Do? 252

Getting Political 256

One Day in Not So Distant Future 259

Notes 265

References 267

Index 279

ERDEM OVACIK is the Co-founder of Donkey Republic, the world’s first app-based bike share. He is a vocal advocate for more sustainable mobility. Ovacik holds a master’s degree in public policy and is a social entrepreneur on a mission to bring humanity onto a path of sustainable growth. He has worked with direct democracy initiatives, outcome-based payment schemes, and micro-loan organizations in Africa.

Erdem Ovacik is a public policy expert and serial entrepreneur who co-founded Donkey Republic, the world’s first app-based bike share. In The Next Democracy, he presents the case for much-needed democratic reforms and explores a collective governance model built on markets and data that he calls “Merit Democracy”. His merit-based vision is designed to improve our well-being as individuals within a free society. Ovacik explains how we can develop the next generation of thriving businesses while doing away with harmful externalities, including environmental degradation and addictive products.

The Next Democracy demonstrates how contemporary societies can assign real value to our public goods and change the way we think about valuation and budgets for public spending. It’s filled with case studies, illustrations, new governance models, and frameworks that show us the path to a new way of organizing governments and societies.

Perfect for everyone with an interest in the future of society, governance, tech, politics, or economics, The Next Democracy is an incisive and groundbreaking exploration of how to solve some of today’s most seemingly intractable problems. From climate change to inequality, this book contains effective and compelling prescriptions for many of the crises currently facing humanity.

Praise for THE NEXT DEMOCRACY

“Real innovation of the political and democratic system as we know it today is an uphill battle. But if we fail to reinvent democracy, we risk losing it altogether. That’s why The Next Democracy is so refreshing and thought provoking. I don’t agree with all that is said, but I like how radically ambitious and intellectually creative it is. Ovacik challenges us to imagine a world where our data serves not just the capitalist machinery but, first and foremost, strengthens democracy—where citizens experience true agency through a fully transparent decision-making process.”
—UFFE ELBÆK, former Member of Danish Parliament, Danish Minister and party leader and founder

“When the world feels like it’s falling apart, you can either panic or start inventing. With The Next Democracy, Ovacik has the courage to do the latter. It is not easy to reimagine something as foundational as democracy, but Ovacik has created a transformative vision that offers a radically different framework for our future. His Merit Democracy concept harnesses the power of impact markets, data, and citizen participation to build governance systems that can thrive and solve today’s complex challenges. I hope the world will listen. Our future may depend on it.”
—ANDERS HVID, Co-founder of Dare Disrupt, Co-founder of Founders of Tomorrow

“Digitalization disrupts democracy. Beginning from this well-established observation, Ovacik takes ‘the side of technology’ to suggest digital solutions to democratic problems. To solve today’s unprecedent challenges, Ovacik argues, we should harness digital technologies for better governance and build a data-driven marketplaces of ideas for policy proposals as well as public services. The book is refreshingly and unapologetically tech-positive, aiming to use opportunities of tech to regulate tech itself, setting out a vision for ‘Merit Democracy’ that is sure to spark controversy and invigorate entrenched discussions on the democratic potentials of digitalization.”
—SINE NØRHOLM JUST, Professor, Artificial Intelligence, Roskilde University

“The Next Democracy jolts us out of tired thinking about politics and governance. It doesn’t just point out the cracks—it offers fresh, actionable ideas and a living framework for experimentation. At the center is the bold concept of Merit Democracy—a new vision for governance that’s as dynamic, transparent, and participatory as the world demands. It’s not a final answer, but a powerful spark. This book got my wheels turning—and it will do the same for anyone ready to help democracy catch up with the future.”
—LISA WITTER, CEO, Apolitical Foundation