Citizen Participatory Democracy Techniques

The aim of this section is to give an overview of participatory democracy methods and practices that have been used. In selecting studies or methods it is important to note how we have decided which methods and practices to include and which to dismiss. Here is a list of qualities that we deemed necessary for a practice or method to be included:
- It must be a primary reference or refer to a primary source;
- Studies must have a set methodology;
- It must have selected participants at random and scientifically;
- There must be some kind of independent moderation of the study;
- There must be a record of the citizens' response and an evaluation or follow up.

Studies that have fulfilled several of these criteria but not all, have been included if they are particularly interesting and may be of some use under the related issues heading.

Definition of participatory democracy
The King Baudouin Foundation's (KBF) publication ‘Participatory and Deliberative Methods Toolkit, How to Connect with Citizens, A Practitioner's Manual' , classifies participatory approaches as ‘actively involving ‘the public' in decision-making processes'. In doing so governments and other organisations can directly addresses problems such as lack of trust and weak legitimacy in decision making.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)  emphasises that participatory democracy does not take away governments elected ‘right and duty' to make policy decisions; it gives new ways to exercise it and increased legitimacy to decisions made. The OECD handbook Citizens as Partners' (download here ) reminds us that involving citizens in this way is a two-way relationship between government and citizens in which citizens actively engage in the decision and policy making. It works on a principle of partnership.

The Participatory Democracy Toolbox (download here ) by ECAS. Following the experience of the European Citizens consultations in which ECAS was a partner, a background paper was produced entitled “How the participatory toolbox can make the European Union less remote from citizens.” In this context, the work of OECD and the handbook for governments on information, consultation and participation is a useful synthesis of the more advanced national government and private sector practioners. ECAS was a partner with the UK NGO, INVOLVE at an OECD conference on this theme held at the end of June 2008 in Ljubljana under the Slovenian Presidency.

More information (download here)

Further Updates:

Building on the Experience of Plan D (download here )

Report on the Steering Group for Citizens Participatory Techniques.
Brussels, ECAS, 5th March 2008 (download here )

Report from the lunch debate based on the lessons learned from the three initiatives at European level.
Brussels, April 24th, 2008. 'What Future for citizen participation at EU level?' (download here )

EParticipation at European Level: current state and potential.
Brussels, May 16th, 2008 (download here )