It is strange to return. I got to know St. Petersburg through words on the page. Particularly Dostoyevsky, but also from many of his contemporaries. A city unwrapped itself in my mind. Visiting, though the names had changed, all was...
This is a guest blog I wrote for the National Assembly for Wales, first published October 6, 2016. The original version is available here (English) / Mae’r fersiwn gwreiddiol ar gael yma (Cymraeg). It’s great to see the fifth National Assembly starting...
The boundary commissions have now published their initial proposals for achieving a reduced House of Commons (down by 50 members to 600) and, at the same time, attempting to equalise the size of constituencies nationally. This has been followed by...
The World e-Parliament Report 2016, which I authored, is now available. It reveals how digital and social technologies have supported deep changes in the operational environment and cultural landscape of parliaments. The data behind the report tells a story of...
Democracy, “for the people, by the people”. But this is Britain so we’ll have none of that nonsense here. Imagine the reception Abraham Lincoln would have got from the 1922 committee if he’d showed up with those crazy ideas. Alan...
Having taken a look at the digital and democratic reform policies from the manifestos of the two major parties, I also wanted to dig a little deeper into the minor parties. It’s impossible to tell what the next government is...
Democracy has become arrogant and controlling. Lots of us are frustrated by this; some think digital is the answer, others are looking for new political leaders. Trouble is none of this touches the structural issues that lie at the heart of the problem. So that’s what Andy does, he makes democracy work better by transforming the underlying architecture, helping it to become more intimate and co-creating. As someone said recently, “an architect for democracy”.
Andy brings extensive international experience in leading, understanding and facilitating democratic innovation, digital policy, citizen engagement, strategic transformation and startups. He finds innovative ways to make democracy work better for all of us.
He's a well-known writer and speaker, so if you want someone to talk candidly about open government, open parliaments, civic media and digital campaigning get in touch.
Watch Andy talking about how we can create new, intimate democracies at TEDxRhodes...
