Who introduces democratic innovations and why? Stakeholders, goals, and consequences of participation

Abstract

This panel brings together four papers that explore the dynamics of participatory governance, democratic innovation, and political participation in diverse global contexts. The papers collectively examine the role of various stakeholders, including children, youth, civil society organizations (CSOs), international organizations, and urban citizens, in shaping and influencing participatory budgeting and deliberative experiences. Papers raise critical questions about why certain democratic innovations are introduced, how political participation is shaped in different urban contexts, what motives move commissioners and implementers to choose certain processes over others, and how they engage different stakeholders in the design and deployment of participation. Papers further explore tensions between governments and civil society and the extent to which structural inequalities and power manifest (or not) in their relations, collaborations, exchanges, and resistance strategies. Together, these papers prompt a rich discussion on the complexities and challenges of participatory governance and democratic innovation, offering valuable insights on the role of various stakeholders in participatory processes, and the relevance of local contexts on the nature and outcomes of these processes. We expect important dialogue across different geographic regions.

Title	Details
From Innovation to Festivalisation? Idea and Practice of School Participatory Budgeting in Poland and Finland	View Paper Details
The Role of Civil Society in Participatory Budgeting in New York and Mexico City	View Paper Details
International Organizations in Deliberative Experiences in the Global South	View Paper Details
A Tale Of Two River Plate Capitals: Exploring Urbanization And Political Participation in Latin America	View Paper Details