Lawyer and troublemaker Katrín Oddsdóttir, founding mother of the still-not-ratified Iceland Constitution, discusses the extraordinary story of drafting a new constitution in Iceland. The podcast covers the financial crisis that led to grassroots movements for reform, women's advocacy efforts, the fight for control over natural resources, campaigning to stop whaling, creating a new statute, and the court ruling exempting people from paying their debts.
The Icelandic movement for constitutional change aims to involve a constituent assembly and a referendum as part of the amendment process, granting power back to the people.
The struggle for democracy in Iceland showcases the tension between the people and politicians, with political resistance hindering the implementation of a crowd-sourced constitution.
The Icelandic movement for constitutional change has taught valuable lessons in activism and democratic engagement, emphasizing the use of diverse voices, public participation, and civil disobedience to challenge the status quo.
Deep dives
The Icelandic Constitution: A Story of Democracy in Action
In this podcast episode, the extraordinary story of Iceland's constitutional journey is explored. After the financial crisis in 2008, the people of Iceland demanded a new constitution to replace the outdated one inherited from Denmark. They organized a national assembly and a citizen's assembly to discuss and draft a new constitution. The process involved diverse voices from different segments of society and emphasized transparency and public participation. Despite facing challenges and political resistance, the process resulted in a crowd-sourced constitution, backed by a strong majority in a referendum. However, the implementation of the new constitution has been hindered by political obstacles. Nevertheless, activists continue to fight for constitutional change and aim to change the amendment process to allow for a constituent assembly and a referendum to amend the constitution.
Implications of a Sovereign People
The story of the Icelandic constitutional journey raises the fundamental question of who holds sovereignty in Iceland: the people or the politicians. The successful demand for a new constitution that was endorsed by a majority of the population highlighted the people's belief in their own sovereignty. However, political resistance and the power dynamics of the parliamentary system have hindered the implementation of the new constitution. Activists now strive to change the amendment process to involve a constituent assembly and a referendum, aiming to restore power to the people and ensure that their voices are heard and respected.
Lessons from the Icelandic Movement
The Icelandic movement for constitutional change has taught valuable lessons in activism and democratic engagement. The use of diverse voices, public participation, humor, and civil disobedience has been key to mobilizing support and challenging the status quo. While obstacles and setbacks have been encountered, the movement has shown resilience and the ability to achieve victories, such as the temporary halt to whaling in Iceland. Going forward, the focus will be on changing the amending process to allow for a constituent assembly, empowering the people to shape and ratify a new constitution.
The Future Possibilities for Icelandic Democracy
The ultimate goal of the Icelandic movement for constitutional change is to establish a new constitution as the effective basis for the country's governance. This will require changes to the amending process and the reconvening of a constituent assembly to write a comprehensive new constitution. This ambitious vision aligns with the understanding that the power of democracy resides with the people. Despite the challenges and political resistance, the movement remains steadfast in its commitment to achieving a more inclusive, transparent, and democratic future for Iceland.
The Struggle for Democracy in Iceland
The podcast explores the struggle for democracy in Iceland, particularly the fight for a new constitution and the challenges faced in its implementation. From the financial crisis of 2008 to the grassroots movement for change, the podcast highlights the power of the people to demand and shape their governance. While setbacks and political resistance have occurred, activists continue to work towards a more democratic future, emphasizing the importance of public participation, transparency, and the recognition of the people as the sovereign force in Icelandic democracy.
Katrín Oddsdóttir is a founding mother of the still-not-ratified Iceland Constitution. In 2012, the people of Iceland told their Parliament to adopt a constitution based on the draft that she and 24 other Icelanders crafted. They had crafted their draft based upon the results from two citizens assemblies. We hear about that history and what it can teach us going forward.
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