ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the initial idea behind the G1000, that is how it came about and fits into the Belgian political system. The G1000 aims to be a citizen initiative that is capable of innovating democracy, a project which attempts not to overthrow the representative system but to assist it and to breathe new life into it. Despite the initial position of independence from the political realm the G1000 adopted, its goal was also to initiate a broader debate around the current democratic system. The G1000 crowdfunders came from highly educated groups, rather interested in politics and politically engaged, either through institutional or through informal channels and with different democratic preferences and reasons to give money to the G1000. The main difference between the G1000 and many other deliberative projects is that it was not funded with public or research money. The G1000 was an initiative by citizens for citizens.
