Local Engagement in Democracy Presentation

8/3/2019 Local Engagement in Democracy Presentation

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Local engagement in democracy

Findings and implications from Pathways through Participation18th October 2011Twitter: #pthwys


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Available from:

www.pathwaysthroughparticipation.org.uk/resources


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How and why does participation begin, continue

and stop?

Research questions

Can trends and patterns of participation beidentified over time?

What connections, if any, are there betweendifferent forms and episodes of participation

and what triggers movement between them?


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Approach

3 field work areas:Leeds

EnfieldSuffolk

Individual at the heartQualitative research

101 in-depthinterviews

Participation as situated practice

Stakeholder

engagement

Life stories


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What is participation?

Social participation:the collective activities thatindividuals are involved in

Public participation:the engagement of individuals withthe various structures and

institutions of democracy

Individual participation:

peoples individual actions andchoices that reflect the kind ofsociety they want to live in


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Why participation starts

An emotional reactionA personal life eventAn external influence

Practical resourcesLearnt resourcesFelt resources

Groups and organisationsLocal environment and place

Helping othersDeveloping relationshipsExercising values & beliefsHaving influenceFor personal benefitBeing part of something


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Why participation

continues or stops

Friendships

Life event

Relationships

TimeHealth

Enjoyment

Impact

Energy


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The factors that shape

participationIndividual motivations

and resources

Relationships and social

networks

Groups and

organisations

Local environment and

place

Wider societal andglobal influences


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Trends and patterns of

participation over time

Critical moments

Life stage

Priorities


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ConclusionsParticipation is personal

Participation can beencouraged, supported& made more attractive

Significant barriers toparticipation areentrenched


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Briefing paper

Also available from:www.pathwaysthroughparticipation.org.uk/resources


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Local engagement in

democracySocial participation:

the collective activities that individualsare involved in

Public participation:

the engagement ofindividuals with the various

structures and institutions of

democracy

Individual participation:peoples individual actions and choices

that reflect the kind of society they wantto live in


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Local engagement in democracy

The language and image

The accessibility The practice


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Language and

image

Perceptions ofactivities wereimportant

Perceptions of thepolitical system

But perceptionscan be overcome

Not political

Voting a

civic duty

Safe seats

discouragepolitical

participation

Politicians seen as self-serving

Positive opinions of particularpolitical representatives

Low levels of trustand confidence


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Practice

Opportunities toparticipate

Negative experiencesof public consultations

Perceptions ofimpact

No examples of public bodiesproactively engaging with people

Examples of bringing aboutchange through lobbying

Tokenistic and/or repetitious

Decision already made

People wanted

to see the

impact of theirparticipation

Tension between

motivation ofcitizens and

needs of publicbodies


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Accessibility

Opportunities toparticipate

Peoplesresources

Relationships and

groups

Need to

complement

peoples lives

Need to respond

to their needsmotivations and

expectations

A lack of

resources stoppeople fromparticipating

Sometimes

due tosystemicinequalities

Groups important

source of publicparticipation

Relationships

can determine

success ofparticipation


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Language andimage

Practice Accessibility

Increase impact ofindividuals vote

Engage with citizens

on their terms

Value, respect andresource those already

actively engaged

Involve people earlyand be genuine

Understand peoples

motivations and beflexible

Show the impact and

limit the cost ofparticipation

Show that people willbe welcome and valued

Support social

participation

Work with thoseactively engaged to

connect with others

Recognise what is easyand difficult to

influence

Implications


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What has

particularly struckyou?

What are theimplications? What else do weneed to know?

Group discussion

Documents

Local Engagement in Democracy Presentation