ABSTRACT
For the first time in history, the majority of the world population lives in cities, which are becoming a core scenario for innovation and openness. Some experiences of modern forms of direct democracy at the local level have become a side support for representative democracy at higher levels. We review ongoing experiences of town hall meetings, citizen legislative initiatives, electronic democracy, and other innovative forms of local governance. We also run a critical review of the practice of holding large-scale referendums about complex public affairs.
