Pathways Through Participation » democracy

Youth volunteering and democratic engagement

Sarah Miller — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:22:03 +0000

When does volunteering promote democratic engagement and when does it leave political norms unchallenged and reproduce the status quo? Can volunteering opportunities be structured to facilitate democratic engagement, and if so how? Should the National Citizenship Service for 16-year olds be compulsory or voluntary? Has research on volunteering adequately engaged with ‘non-mainstream’ or oppositional activist groups like Climate Camp? These are some of the questions explored yesterday in a lively seminar called Volunteering and Democratic Engagement, jointly organised by the Institute for Volunteering Research and Birkbeck, University of London. The seminar marked the official launch of a research partnership between the two organisers. It featured presentations by Professor Rachel Brooks (Brunel University), Paul Oginsky (government advisor on the National Citizenship Service) and Sophie Livingstone (Chief Executive of City Year).

The seminar presentations and the supporting publication can be downloaded here.

The next seminar, on international volunteering for young people, will be held in early December. Keep an eye on IVR’s events page for more information when it’s announced.

Putting citizens at the centre: an overview of Citizenship DRC research

Veronique Jochum — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 14:24:04 +0000

The Development Research Centre on Citizenship, Participation and Accountability (Citizenship DRC) is an international network of researchers and activists exploring new forms of citizenship. It recently produced a short guide for policy-makers which pulls together some of the key findings of their research over the last 10 years.

The main headings of the report are: the outcomes of citizen engagement; the pathways of citizen engagement; the fragilities of citizenship in different settings and lessons for putting citizens at the centre. Naturally I was drawn to the section on pathways and particularly the comments relating to the role of associational life. The report concludes that while associations can be ‘schools of democracy’ this is by no means automatic. It will largely depend on the nature and style of the associations, i.e. on what they do and how they do it. Some associations will in effect reproduce existing social inequalities and hierarchies, while others have the potential to challenge them.

In the document they often quote another recent output from Citizenship DRC, which focused on outcomes: So What difference does it make? Mapping the outcomes of citizen engagement. Based on 100 research studies of citizen engagement in 20 countries, it concludes that 75% of the outcomes were positive (including improved practices of participation; the strengthening of responsive and accountable states; and the development of inclusive and cohesive societies) and 25% were negative (including disempowerment and a reduced sense of agencies; a sense of meaningless, tokenistic, or manipulated participation; the use of new skills and alliances for corrupt or non-positive ends; and the elite capture of participatory processes).

Making good society: growing participatory and deliberative democracy

Veronique Jochum — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:30:57 +0000

The Commission of Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society in the UK and Ireland, funded by Carnegie UK Trust, has now published its final report ‘Making good society’. The Commission identifies four critical areas in which civil society activity is necessary to make good society:

Growing a more civil economy;
A rapid and just transition to a low carbon economy;
Democratising media and content;
Growing participatory and deliberative democracy.

In chapter four of the report, the one relating to participatory and deliberative democracy, the Commission recommends the following:

Strengthening very local democracy with clear rights to set up neighbourhood councils with powers to raise finance and act.
Refashioning parliaments to allow for more dialogue and engagement, including rights of petition and rights for petititioners to take part in debates.
Reinforcing rights to dissent and reviewing the impact of serious crime and anti-terror legislation on civil society to reduce the risk of unintended harm to civil society domestically and globally.
Investing in deliberation skills. Individuals, civil society associations and public bodies need to help strengthen the skills of active listening, rational argument and effective deliberation.
Developing leaders from all backgrounds. More needs to be done to support those organisations that are effective at identifying and supporting emerging leaders who reflect the communities they serve.
Bridging difference. A related priority for funders is to support individuals or initiatives that are skilled at overcoming conflicts or mutual distrust.
Harnessing the potential of the Internet by using SMS, twitter and social networking sites as tools for mobilisation, education and direct action.

Deliberative and participatory democracy in the UK – call for papers: conference at Glasgow Caledonian University (23-25 June 2010)

Veronique Jochum — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:03:23 +0000

The Political Studies Association is hosting a conference which will explore the broad range of issues that relate to the institutionalisation of deliberative and participatory democracy. In particular it encourages papers and panels that have a specific focus on, or relevance to, democracy in the UK. Papers drawing on empirical evidence as well as those with a more theoretical approach are equally welcome, as are papers from supporters, sceptics and critics of deliberative and participatory democracy.

The deadline for electronic submission of proposals for papers or panels is 1 March 2010. For more information contact Stewart Davidson: stewart.davidson@gcal.ac.uk