8. Deliberative democracy in practice / Mini-publics Flashcards
participatory governance
processes and structures of public decision-making that involves actors who are not normally charged with decision-making
including actors not normally charged with decision-making
mini-publics
small, representative citizen groups formed to deliberate on specific municipal policy issues
typically lack decision-making power and are advisory in nature
small groups formed to deliberate on municipal issues
five hypothesis for introducing participatory governance
response to deficits of representative democracy
strategy to improve governance effectiveness
pressure to act on policy problems
electoral benefits
public administration fad
H1: response to deficits of representative democracy
decreasing participation in traditional democratic institutions has led to legitimacy deficits that, in turn, increase the pressure for democratic renewal and ultimately foster the introduction of participatory governance
mechanisms of participatory governance are more likely to be found in contexts characterized by low citizen participation in traditional democratic institutions and high social inequality.
low citizen particpation
H2: strategy to improve governance effectiveness
Authorities seek to achieve effective governance, and expect participatory mechanisms to contribute to governance effectiveness. The improvement of policy quality; and the increase of policy acceptability by the public
H3: pressure to act on policy problems
the greater the pressure to act on policy problems, or the more difficult these problems appear to a municipal government, the more likely it is that mechanisms of participatory governance will be introduced.
H4: electoral benefits
traditionally the left and the green parties who campaign for the expansion of citizen participation
mechanisms of participatory governance entail frequent direct interaction between citizens and government officials.
mechanisms of participatory governance are more likely to be introduced in municipalities with a strong green/left vote, but also in those with weak party ties.
H5: public administration fad
introduction of participatory governance is thus related to initiatives taken by public administrators, who promote them as part of state-of-the-art administrative practice, and seek to strengthen networked forms of governance that highlight the participation of citizens and service users in the management or monitoring of public services
core characteristics of mini-publics / deliberative democracy
lottery = no self-selection. people are selected based on a lottery
participation days = input by experts, small group discussions, good conversations with the help of facilitators
decision making = set of policy advice, on which gets voted
what kind of municipalities introduce mini-publics
pressing policy problems , when there are different visions (fragmentation) on how to solve those problems.
richer municipalities, whole process is expensive
