Policymakr: The world's first online think-tank

Shape public policy.

Policymakr will be the world's first online think-tank, connecting citizens, policy makers and experts. We're currently in beta, but once we go live you can be one of the first to join.

Shape public policy.

Policymakr will be the world's first online think-tank, connecting citizens, policy makers and experts. We're currently in beta, but once we go live you can be one of the first to join.

Citizens, for Policymakr by Wren McDonald.

Can we reset democracy?

Today, information is immediately available, but that has come at a huge cost: by accelerating decision-making, it has lessened citizens’ ability to consider issues and their merits in a longer-term perspective. BBC journalist Richard Fisher argued recently that our inability to look beyond the latest news cycle could be one of the most dangerous traits of our generation.

Policymakr will reset the treatment and perception of politics on the Internet, using the tools of the 2020s to plan humankind’s long-term future.

Citizens, policy makers and experts: planning our future with facts.

Projects are at the core of Policymakr. Its governance structure, rules and economic model are designed from the ground up to provide an online place for policy formulation that actors from all backgrounds can equally trust.

We will make Citizens, Policy Makers and Experts work together online to solve a policy issue. By building on and broadening existing efforts at partnership, especially in the field of Open Government, Policymakr will restore confidence between the public, those in public office, both elected and unelected, and those with the technical knowledge on each subject.

Closeup of hands of group of seniors, licensed by Rawpixel

Citizens

The OECD pointed out as early as 2001 that effective citizen participation in policy was at the heart of open government reforms, especially by seeking feedback on public services. Yet in 2016, it observed that governments still failed to provide this sufficiently.

President participates in a roundtable on Fighting for America’s Seniors in the Cabinet Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Caighead). Original public domain image from Flickr

Policy makers

The decline in confidence in policy makers has been documented by Gallup, in the US, for forty years. It is also apparent the UK, China and elsewhere. Politicians and public servants need to build on previous efforts to set up Open Government and restore productive debate with the public.

A scientist examining the results of a hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) test. Original image sourced from US Government department: Public Health Image Library, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Experts

The growing hold of unverifiable information on the Internet has actually increased our belief in and need for involving experts in public policy. According to the Pew Research Group, public confidence in scientists to act in the public interest has increased over the past few years.

Citizens

Policy makers

Experts

Six key words that will define Policymakr

Non-profit

The purpose of Policymakr is to serve the public and the general interest, globally, in the long term. It is not to make money or to enrich its founders.

Ad-free

There will never be a single ad on Policymakr. The site will run paid accounts and will be exclusively funded by donations, and member subscriptions.

Independent

No affiliation with a party, lobby interest, social class, or religion. Membership open to all, regardless of colour, class, creed, gender, or orientation.

Project-focused

The site’s primary content will be projects curated by members, with a view to drafting and validating a robust, long-term solution to a policy issue.

Fact-based

Work on projects carried out by members shall not involve an exchange of unsubstantiated opinion, but only mobilization of verifiable facts.

Conflict-free

We aim to solve problems through amicable, non-partisan study of all relevant facts: partisan political opinions have no place in this process.

Six key words that will define Policymakr

Non-profit

The purpose of Policymakr is to serve the public and the general interest, globally, in the long term. It is not to make money or to enrich its founders.

Ad-free

There will never be a single ad on Policymakr. The site will run paid accounts and will be exclusively funded by donations, and member subscriptions.

Independent

No affiliation with a party, lobby interest, social class, or religion. Membership open to all, regardless of colour, class, creed, gender, or orientation.

Project-focused

The site’s primary content will be projects curated by members, with a view to drafting and validating a robust, long-term solution to a policy issue.

Fact-based

Work on projects carried out by members shall not involve an exchange of unsubstantiated opinion, but only mobilization of verifiable facts.

Conflict-free

We aim to solve problems through amicable, non-partisan study of all relevant facts: partisan political opinions have no place in this process.

Policymakr · The world's first online think tank

Shape public policy.

Shape public policy.

Can we reset democracy?

Citizens, policy makers and experts: planning our future with facts.