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Cities as Arenas of Political Innovation in the Strengthening of Deliberative and Participatory Democracy

Project description

DEENESFRITPL

How grassroot initiatives merge parts of participatory and deliberative democracies

Gaps between political decision-making processes and citizens are increasingly visible in Europe. Furthermore, a lack of faith in political processes has fuelled populist sentiment and strengthened autocratic governance in some cases. However, rather than interpret the pluralistic nature of democracy as a weakness, local governments and new urban movements are influencing political cultures, pushing for greater accountability and inclusiveness. The EU-funded project EUARENAS investigates the impact of these local reform initiatives. Through comparative case studies and governance innovation pilots EUARENAS will generate contextually sensitive insights and good practices for more inclusive forms of governance and citizen participation. It will also will develop a toolbox for participatory and deliberative governance.

Objective

Gaps between political decision-making processes and citizens has become increasingly visible in Europe, particularly since the EU’s post-Millennial economic, political and security crises. In addition, general distrust of politics has been exacerbated by populist and neo-nationalist political forces that interpret the pluralistic and agnostic nature of democracy as a weakness. These and similar tendencies could have grave consequences through a further erosion of multicultural conviviality and social cohesion in Europe. Nevertheless, populism and political disaffection on a more general level are being met by counter currents of local political activism and an increasing consciousness of the political role of social movements in cities and urban areas. Cities have emerged as vital political arenas for the development of the European public sphere and the promotion of inclusion, social agendas and active citizenship. In addition, different forms of citizen participation have started to transform governance cultures of several large European cities, taking active roles in local elections, and becoming part of local political structures, from Paris to Istanbul. Based on several case studies and pilots of governance innovation initiatives we will investigate the ways in which social movements coupled with local government reform initiatives create momentum for political change that include more inclusive and participatory forms of governance. In EUARENAS we will target the following: 1) the ways in which these practices emerge, the main actors, the strategies, methods and digital platforms they develop to attract attention and how they appropriate urban spaces, 2) economic, political and cultural factors influencing local outcomes, 3) horizontal and vertical governance implications of governance innovations and 4) the added value of solutions (housing, social care, social justice, social diversity, climate change) provided by participatory/deliberative means.

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Call for proposal

H2020-SC6-GOVERNANCE-2018-2019-2020

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Sub call

H2020-SC6-GOVERNANCE-2020

Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

ITA-SUOMEN YLIOPISTO
Net EU contribution
€ 612 500,00
Address
YLIOPISTONRANTA 8
70211 KUOPIO
Finland

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Region
Manner-Suomi Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi Pohjois-Savo
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 612 500,00

Participants (11)

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Last update: 24 January 2024

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/959420

European Union, 2024