Consensus democracy[1] is the application of consensus decision-making and supermajority to the process of legislation in a democracy. It is characterized by a decision-making structure that involves and takes into account as broad a range of opinions as possible, as opposed to majoritarian democracy systems where minority opinions can potentially be ignored by vote-winning majorities.[2]Constitutions typically require consensus or supermajority.[3]
Consensus democracy is most closely embodied in certain countries such as Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Lebanon, Sweden, Iraq, and Belgium, where consensus is an important feature of political culture, particularly with a view to preventing the domination of one linguistic or cultural group in the political process.[5] The term consociational state is used in political science to describe countries with such consensus based political systems. An example of such a system could be the DutchPoldermodel.
Many parties in Lebanon call for applying consensus democracy, especially at times of crisis.
^Lijphart, A., Patterns of Democracy: Government Forms & Performance in Thirty-six Countries. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999. ISBN0-300-07893-5
^Graham White (2011). Cabinets and First Ministers. pp. 58–63. ISBN978-0774842143.
