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Practicing Democracy as if the Public Matters
Will Friedman, Ph.D.President, Public Agenda
June, 2015Adelaide, South Australia
STATUS-QUO DEMOCRACY FALLING SHORT
Section I
What ails democracy today
● Leaders out of touch with public● Powerful interests w/too much
influence ● Partisan bickering defeats common
ground ●Gridlock defeats problem solving
A limited tool box for democratic problem solving
Advocacy groups and experts not enough
The nature of “wicked problems”
Technical Problems Wicked Problems
The nature of “wicked problems”
Technical Problems Wicked Problems
Easy to identify Hard to identify, easy to deny
The nature of “wicked problems”
Technical Problems Wicked Problems
Easy to identify Hard to identify, easy to deny
Amenable to a technical fix There is no technical fix
The nature of “wicked problems”
Technical Problems Wicked Problems
Easy to identify Hard to identify, easy to deny
Amenable to a technical fix There is no technical fix
Amenable to top-down solutions Requires many parties to learn and negotiate, make provisional decisions and adapt
Managing wicked problems requires an engaged public
IS A MORE CITIZEN-CENTERED DEMOCRACY POSSIBLE?
Section II
Are the people up to the task?
Civic Pessimists Civic Optimists
Are the people up to the task?
Civic Pessimists Civic Optimists
“The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right.” (Hamilton)
Are the people up to the task?
Civic Pessimists Civic Optimists
“The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right.” (Hamilton)
“I am not among those who fear the people.” (Jefferson)
Are the people up to the task?
Civic Pessimists Civic Optimists
“The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right.” (Hamilton)
“I am not among those who fear the people.” (Jefferson)
The public is often “destructively wrong at…critical junctures.” (Walter Lippmann)
Are the people up to the task?
Civic Pessimists Civic Optimists
“The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right.” (Hamilton)
“I am not among those who fear the people.” (Jefferson)
The public is often “destructively wrong at…critical junctures.” (Walter Lippmann)
“The cure for the ills of democracy is more democracy.” (Jane Addams)
Are the people up to the task?
Civic Pessimists Civic Optimists
“The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right.” (Hamilton)
“I am not among those who fear the people.” (Jefferson)
The public is often “destructively wrong at…critical junctures.” (Walter Lippmann)
“The cure for the ills of democracy is more democracy.” (Jane Addams)
“No one ever went brokeunderestimating the intelligence…of the American people.” (H.L. Mencken)
Are the people up to the task?
Civic Pessimists Civic Optimists
“The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right.” (Hamilton)
“I am not among those who fear the people.” (Jefferson)
The public is often “destructively wrong at…critical junctures.” (Walter Lippmann)
“The cure for the ills of democracy is more democracy.” (Jane Addams)
“No one ever went brokeunderestimating the intelligence…of the American people.” (H.L. Mencken)
“…democracies decay not because of the stupidity of the masses, but because of the cupidity and self-seeking of leadership.” (V.O. Key)
A different, more pragmatic, view
Optimist? Pessimist? It depends!
“Potentially, the public can contributein ways that elude expert elites and leaders.”
Dan Yankelovich
What is public judgment?
Not top-of-the head reactions
What is public judgment?
Not necessarily deeply felt reactions
What is public judgment?
A considered, responsible perspective, achieved through a kind of public work, that unfolds in stages.
THE EMERGING ART AND SCIENCE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Section III
Public engagement: Practices that involve the community in meaningful public problem solving
Authentic engagement takes citizens seriously
“We want to include you in this decision without letting you affect it.”
Practices that go beyond business as usual
Business as usual Authentic engagement
Practices that go beyond business as usual
Business as usual Authentic engagement
Interest group or expert driven by small group of decision makers
Inclusive decision making, with public & stakeholders involved
Practices that go beyond business as usual
Business as usual Authentic engagement
Interest group or expert driven by small group of decision makers
Inclusive decision making, with public & stakeholders involved
Decide first, then sell Decide with stakeholders
Practices that go beyond business as usual
Business as usual Authentic engagement
Interest group or expert driven by small group of decision makers
Inclusive decision making, with public & stakeholders involved
Decide first, then sell Decide with stakeholders
Top-down, one-waycommunications based on informing and persuading
Two-way communications based on dialogue and learning
Resolves democratic ambivalence toward public
By providing the means for citizens to effectively do their work
A key to effective engagement
Promote dialogue and deliberation among diverse stakeholders about real choices
What kind of after-school program do we need?
Option 1: Emphasize academic excellenceHelp kids catch up or stay ahead in school
What kind of after-school program do we need?
Option 2: Emphasize values and life skillsTeach leadership, teamwork, strong values
What kind of after-school program do we need?
Option 3: Emphasize a safe place to unwindAllow kids to exercise, play, explore
What kind of after-school program do we need?
Option 1: Emphasize academic excellenceHelp kids catch up or stay ahead in school
Option 2: Emphasize values and life skillsTeach leadership, teamwork, strong values
Option 3: Emphasize a safe place to unwindAllow kids to exercise, play, explore
SOUTH AUSTRALIA HAS A CHANCE TO LEAD
Section IV
South Australia has been a democratic pioneer
South Australia again leads civic innovation
Potentially, among the world’s most ambitious experiment in deliberative democracy
“One of the greatest resources we have is the common-sense judgments
of everyday people.” Jay Weatherill
South Australia again leads civic innovation
Successdepends on you, not just the government
What citizens can do
● Participate!
What citizens can do
● Participate! ● Bring others to the table
What citizens can do
● Participate! ● Bring others to the table● Hold public officials accountable for
taking public participation seriously
What citizens can do
● Participate! ● Bring others to the table● Hold public officials accountable for
taking public participation seriously● Hold yourself and your fellow citizens
accountable for doing your part
What citizens can do
● Participate! ● Bring others to the table● Hold public officials accountable for
taking public participation seriously● Hold yourself and your fellow citizens
accountable for doing your part
What’s at stake?
● Public policy that responds to people’s needs
What’s at stake?
● Public policy that responds to people’s needs
● Government-community-citizen-business partnerships that drive progress on “wicked problems”
What’s at stake?
● Public policy that responds to people’s needs
● Government-community-citizen-business partnerships that drive progress on “wicked problems”
● Stronger economic growth
What’s at stake?
● Public policy that responds to people’s needs
● Government-community-citizen-business partnerships that drive progress on “wicked problems”
● Stronger economic growth● Showing the world how to revitalize
democracy
What’s at stake?
● Public policy that responds to people’s needs
● Government-community-citizen-business partnerships that drive progress on “wicked problems”
● Stronger economic growth● Showing the world how to revitalize
democracy
