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


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


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


Citizen engagement – Danish style

• Inviting citizens to engage as users - individual focus

• Focus on public welfare services

• Public debates: Conflicts, problems

• Involvement through hearings


The decision wheel


Mapping the needs

Analyse/deliberateDecide

Seek solutionsImplement

Evaluate

Scope for citizen influence?


Information

Hearing

Dialogue

Influence

Participation

New directions in citizen engagement..

• Early involvement

• Committed citizens

• Focus on ”we” – the public good

• Dialogue: Focus on solutions


Citizen involvement – Icelandic style?

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

• What new directions are needed?


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


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


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)


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


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


Silkeborg Kommune: Option catalogue


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


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?


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


Possible gains from involving citizens

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


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)


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


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



GOOD LUCK!

citizen involvement – the danish way

Documents

involvement strategy

locallocal democracy

early involvement

local democracy lessons

local democracythe

problems involvement

culture of involvement

influence citizens