SEOUL - Former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel (D-Alaska), a 2008 Democratic candidate for president, has been the leading advocate of introducing the ballot initiative at the federal level in America. But, as Gravel told the 2009 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy here Monday, he's been frustrated in his efforts in the U.S.
    So now, in an application of the maxim "If you face a big problem, expand it," Gravel has decided to take his idea for America to other countries. His search for "an alternative national venue" has brought him to Korea, with its relatively new democracy and constitution.
Gravel said he intends to work to convince Koreans to adopt a national ballot initiative power-and then build on that triumph to take the idea around the world. Gravel and the Korea Democracy Foundation have been working to educate Koreans on the subject. They're also conducting a national poll; if it shows support for the strong idea, advocates will press Korea's Election Management Committee to schedule an election - perhaps next year - on the subject.
    Gravel's proposal for a Korean National Initiative also creates a Citizens' Assembly and a "citizens Trust" to administer direct democratic elections.
    Gravel and other advocates have cleverly sought to appeal to national pride - particularly Koreans' record as successful exporters. Direct democracy, they argue, would be another Korean export.

Last fall, I attended the first global forum on direct democracy, held in Aarau, Switzerland. Academics, journalists, and activists from 35 countries showed up. I can't explain how helpful the event was to my thinking. In California's daily political life, it's easy to think that the initiative and referendum process we have here are fixed things. But in a global perspective, we're a strange outlier, with an inflexible process.

The Initiative and Referendum Institute Europe, a leading sponsor of the forum, has just announced a second global forum, for Sept. 14-16 in South Korea. Details are here. I hope that Californians and Americans with an interest in direct democracy will find a way to join us. (Last time, the United States of America was represented by yours truly and Mike Gravel. With all due respect to Sen. Gravel, we can do better).

A third global forum is already in the works. It's likely to be held in California in 2010, a time when voters here may be considering whether to call a constitutional convention. More to come on this in the future.