Conclusion: How to Rule the Void? Policy Responses to a ‘Hollowing Out’ of Democracy

Abstract

Democracy requires the critical engagement of practitioners and experts alike.

Co-creating Democratic Legitimacy: Potentials and Pitfalls

“…Clearly this is a field where co-creation scholars need to pay more attention to political parties. For example, to what extent is it possible to renew political parties as mass movements through reforms inspired by new types of participation, including co-creation (Anheier, 2015)? Or, conversely-to what extent can co-creation replace the various roles of political parties, such as recruitment to councils, internal coordination among councilors, and political opposition (Copus & Erlingsson, 2012)?…”

“…One way to strengthen legitimacy is to see implementation not as a public, professionalized, and value-free process, but rather as an arena for co-creation where citizens are actively involved in the delivery of services and the solutions of problems. (Anheier, 2015; Bovaird, 2007; Pestoff, 2014; Voorberg et al, 2015). In addition, it is also claimed that co-creation on the input side of the policy circle can increase legitimacy.…”