Decidim is a democratic association for the governance of participatory democracy technology, contributing to the democratization of society through the construction of technology, methodologies, practices, standards, actions, narratives, and values in a free, open, collaborative, and reflective way. From the beginning, Decidim has maintained a social contract that includes the values of the project, with all members of the Decidim Free Software Association undertaking to respect this contract. The organization embodies its democratic principles in both its products and its own governance structure.
Why It Matters: Decidim matters because it recognizes that democratizing society requires more than just tools—it demands methodologies, practices, standards, and values developed through the same free, open, and collaborative processes the technology aims to enable. By governing itself as a democratic association with a social contract, all members undertake to respect. Decidim models the participatory principles it promotes rather than simply building software for others to use democratically. The commitment to being reflective alongside being open and collaborative demonstrates understanding that democracy is an ongoing practice requiring continuous examination, not a static product to be delivered.
