The effects of economic crises on participatory democracy

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of economic conditions on participatory democracy. It analyses whether economic crises affect the types of proposals that emerge from local participatory processes and the fate of these proposals. Focusing on more than 500 proposals that emerged from 34 participatory processes in Spain between 2007 and 2011, our study covers a period which straddles the emergence of severe economic problems resulting from the global financial crisis. Applying four different but complementary analytical strategies, we find two types of effects. First, proposals made during the crisis period were less costly though more challenging. Second, local governments implemented a smaller proportion of the proposals that were put forward by the public. These findings suggest that external economic shocks reduce the ability of governments to respond to the demands of citizens, but that citizens also recalibrate their expectations in response to austerity.

Participatory Frustration: The Unintended Cultural Effect of Local Democratic Innovations

“…During the 2000s, Spain registered an extraordinary development of PPs and was the European country where PB spread the most (Ganuza & Francés, 2012). However, by the year 2010, austerity measures and the rise of local conservative governments entailed the cancellation of many PPs (Alarcón, Galais, Font, & Smith, in press; Blanco, 2013) This work is part of broader research conducted during 2013 to 2015 focusing on the effects of PPs upon the relationships between public administration and civil society.…”

Global Trends in Management, IT and Governance in an e-World (E-MIG 2019 International)

“…Participatory democracy can be defined as a process of mutual decision making that combines components from both direct and representative democracy (Pateman 2012). Alarcón et al (2018) refer to participatory democracy as the responsibility of citizens to be involved in the decisions made by the representatives of the government that can impact the lives of the citizens. It can also be defined as a political system that allows citizens to participate in decision making, either by developing policy or holding a political position (Kaufman 2017).…”

“…It can also be defined as a political system that allows citizens to participate in decision making, either by developing policy or holding a political position (Kaufman 2017). Alarcón et al (2018) argued that, while the citizens have the ability or power to make decisions on policy proposals, the politicians assume the role of policy implementation. Similarly, Mutz (2006) described participatory democracy as a form of movement which may include the women's suffrage movement or civil rights movement that assemble a group of people to democratically make decisions for the group.…”