citizen involvement – the danish way

Citizen involvement – the Danish way

• A brief history

• The Danish way - characteristics

• Possible new directions

www.centerforborgerdialog.dk

Denmark: Three waves of local democracy

First wave: Citizens as ”consumers”

Second wave: Local democracy

Third wave: Userdriven innovation New forms of involvement

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Changing citizen engagement

• Turnout of local elections is going down (66% 2009)• Fewer citizens want to run for office• Low interest among young people• A slide from ”we” to ”I” in engagement • Influencing implementation of decisions

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Parallel channels of influence

• User democracy: User boards at institutions

• Local democracy: Councils with formal competences

• Network democracy: Partnerships in integration, local planning

• Project democracy: Partnerships, networks working for projects, f.inst. establishing a local cultural center

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Citizen engagement – Danish style

• Inviting citizens to engage as users - individual focus

• Focus on public welfare services

• Public debates: Conflicts, problems

• Involvement through hearings

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The decision wheel

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Mapping the needs

Analyse/deliberateDecide

Seek solutionsImplement

Evaluate

Scope for citizen influence?

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Information

Hearing

Dialogue

Influence

Participation

New directions in citizen engagement..

• Early involvement

• Committed citizens

• Focus on ”we” – the public good

• Dialogue: Focus on solutions

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Citizen involvement – Icelandic style?

• How would you describe the Icelandic way of engaging citizens?

• What new directions are needed?

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Danish cases: New forms of involvement

• A strategy for local democracy: Ballerup

• Involving citizens through IT: Silkeborg

• Keeping local-local democracy alive: - Local councils- ABCD in Vejle

• Lessons for the future

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Ballerup Kommune: A strategy for local democracyThe process • A ”culture of involvement”• A need to systematize involvement• Mapping the experiences• Citizen summit on involvement• Strategy developed by politicians

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Ballerup Kommune: A strategy for local democracyCentral points: • Aim: Involving citizens as citizens, not as users• Involvement considerations compulsary• The citizens have a right to be heard, scope for influence• Citizens must be involved in decisions as early as possible • Information and communication central • County staff are ambassadors• Focus on new competences and methods (tool box)

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Ballerup Kommune: A strategy for local democracy Lessons learnt:• Strengthened focus on involvement: - Spreading experiences and tools through project forum- Involvement part of project handbook

• Some areas in front: Children, planning, health

• Evaluation coming up

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Silkeborg Kommune:E-involvement in the budget

• A need to cut 250 mio. kr. • A wish to involve broadly• An ”option catalogue” with 150 options • E-hearing of citizens (debate forum)• Local meetings with politicians• All answers reviewed• 1100 answers, 30.000 internet-hits

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Silkeborg Kommune: Option catalogue

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Silkeborg Kommune: E-involvement in the budgetLessons learnt• It is possible to engage citizens in the budget• Joint initiative from the town council • Challenge to communicate the budget• Biased participation: organized citizens • Inviting user-answers: Don’t touch our school• Biggest cuts in administration• Citizens gain insight into the complexity

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E-Involvement of citizens- possibilities and challenges

• Potential to reach a broad range of citizens• Quick and cheap channels• A supplement to other channels• Risk of information overload• Quick, individual answers (user)• How to create an e-dialogue?

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Developing local democracy in amalgamated municipalities

• How do we insure that local communities do not feel run over in

geographically big municipal entities?

• How do we keep the ‘local – local’ democracy alive?

• How can politicians gain sufficient knowledge about local communities

to make good decisions?

Lessons learned?

• A tool of communication

• To come aware of local wishes and needs

• Creates synergy across local associations

• Define roles

• Get the administration on board

• Local councils are not for everyone

•

The “Vejle model “

o Asset Based Community Development

o Appreciative Inquiry

o Education of Citizens

Local development agents

e-Involvement ABCD method

Democracy Strategy Local councils

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

Danish cases – Icelandic reality

Citizen involvement in Icelandic counties

• Possible gains and pitfalls

• How to take a first step

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Possible gains from involving citizens

• Better informed decisions• Utilize civic ressources• Building trust and understanding• Civic ownership• Responsibility and community spirit• New solutions, innovation

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Possible pitfalls…

• Consider advantages and disadvantages

• Local government should in general always have final say

• Make sure citizens are aware and accept the premise of the dialogue

• Get the administration on board

• Citizen dialogue is pointless if ignored

• Don’t do everything at once

What can politicians do to further citizen involvement?

• Establish principles/a strategy for citizen involvement• Ask the civil servants to plan citizen involvement • Facilitate dialogues between different interest groups• Participate actively in civic dialogues• Develop dialogue competences (listening)

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The role of civil servants in civic involvement?• Plan decision processes that leave room for citizen input

• Demand clear goals and ambitions, when asked to plan involvement

• Understand and value the contributions from citizens

• Develop new competences: Communication and facilitation

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Possible first steps of strengthening citizen involvement:• Develop a political vision/strategy for citizen involvement • Establish one or more pilot projects to gain practical experiences and competences

• Provide organisatorical backing and clear responsibility

www.centerforborgerdialog.dk

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GOOD LUCK!