Instead of blaming online and social media and participatory modes of production as amateurish, a new report published in Finland suggests that our broadcasting models of democracy and politics should change into wiki-democracy. The report that focuses on the brand of Finland and the future development of the country - suggesting also an emphasis on organic food production, emphasis on teaching, and a global visibility as a "silicon valley of social innovation" - argues that the models for cooperation and participatory culture offered by the wiki-model is a way to restore the faltering belief in politics.
"This kind of wiki-democracy makes the argumentation relating to decisions widely
visible and allows people to comment on it. As with Wikipedia, each and every
Finn could, within the limits of their abilities, suggest ideas on the criteria on which
decisions should be based and how decisions should be implemented. Rather
than mass meetings where everyone would get to take the floor, it would be a
forum that would enable everyone to develop the criteria for decision-making.
This would enhance the participatory dimension of politics, as well as make it more
understandable to the public. An appropriate milestone for implementing wikidemocracy
is 2017, Finland’s centennial year, and planning should be entrusted to
the Ministry of Justice, which monitors the implementation of democracy." (p. 68)
Whereas the report focuses on Finnish developments, it does not hide the objective of making Finland a globally exemplary post-industrial social innovation country; in a rather enthusiastic tone it sets the standards high, and offers these ideas as a benchmark for a wider global debate. Without going into a further elaboration of the idea that is offered only briefly and as part of other suggestions, it however shows interesting ideas again emerging from Finland -- where broadband connection of min. 1Mbps is a legal right.
The report is available also in English and downloadable from the "Tehtävä Suomelle", "Mission for Finland"-website.