A brief overview of the current problems of a global democracy is sufficient to understand the difficulties inherent in the present form of democracy. Above all, the question arises: How can we improve democracy in such a way that it can effectively and satisfactorily regulate our common life of the First Global, truly world-spanning civilisation for all? Is this even possible? I think, yes, it is possible. But for that to happen, we must first change something at the other end of the problem. Namely, we must first be clear about who we really are? And then, what does that mean, "all of us together"?
We must finally understand that the last centuries have been counterproductive in terms of society building. The so-called Western half of the world, in particular, has degraded its societies into a colourful, loose, and discontented with themselves collection of individualists. Western societies are not really societies any more. We have learned to see this change as a natural evolution of humanity. We no longer question it. We start every discussion about democracy with the "finished" (i.e. adult) citizens in mind and want to see the voice of each individual as important as that of everyone else. In the process, we have completely forgotten about Nature. We have disconnected ourselves from Nature not only ecologically but also socially. But if our First Global Civilisation on Earth is to be seen as a natural evolutionary stage of development, then the participatory democracy that is to regulate the coexistence of this civilisation should also be linked to the natural foundations of life for all members of this civilisation. Here, however, we must be very clear: This natural basis of the life of each and every member of our civilisation is still, and remains forever, his or her own family. Apart from pathological exceptions, there are no members of our civilisation who are not descended from a family.
It is precisely for this reason that we devote our effort here to an overview of our understanding of the concept of family as the source of people, that is, of participants in a naturally participatory democracy.