How can democratic decision-making become more inclusive, effective and responsive to citizens’ needs? The EuropeanCity² project explores this question by combining political science, social choice theory and advanced computer modelling.
New Approaches to Democratic Participation
EuropeanCity² investigates innovative voting mechanisms, with a particular focus on Quadratic Voting. Unlike traditional voting methods, this approach allows people to express not only which option they prefer, but also how strongly they feel about different issues.
Using real and synthetic data, the project is developing computer simulations to explore how different voting systems could influence participation, polarisation, public trust and decisions about shared resources. The research brings together experts in democracy, technology and data science, as well as representatives of public authorities and civil society.
Testing Ideas in Real Communities
The approaches developed within EuropeanCity² will be tested in real-world settings in Aarhus, Denmark, in cooperation with partners in Basel, Switzerland.
The pilots will help the project examine how new voting approaches work in practice and how participants perceive the decision-making process. The insights collected will support the further development of the project’s models and recommendations.
An International Research Partnership
EuropeanCity² is coordinated by Aarhus University and the European Institute of Science and Management. The international consortium brings together universities, research organisations, technology experts, public authorities and civil society representatives from across Europe and beyond.
This interdisciplinary cooperation will support the development of practical tools and evidence-based recommendations for more inclusive and effective democratic processes.
Watch the EuropeanCity² Project Video
We invite you to watch our new promotional video introducing EuropeanCity² and its main objectives.
Discover how the project aims to explore new possibilities for democratic participation and decision-making in Europe.
Follow EuropeanCity² through our communication channels for project updates, research results and new insights into democratic participation and decision-making.