Local democracy initiatives in Sweden: Inclusive or exclusive participatory democracy?

AbstractParticipatory democracy emphasizes the importance of the public political participation. Citizen engagement is crucial for advancing sustainable development at local level. Citizen participation initiatives at local... [ view full abstract ]

Abstract

Participatory democracy emphasizes the importance of the public political participation. Citizen engagement is crucial for advancing sustainable development at local level. Citizen participation initiatives at local level in Sweden include among others civic dialogues in the planning, e-petitions and citizen proposals (CP). While participatory democrats recognize the need for representative democracy they also see the possibility and benefits of more political involvement by the public than is currently practiced. The arguments in favour of enhancing citizen participation focus on its different benefits. In this paper the design and practice of citizen involvement through CP in Sweden is studied. The aspects for analysis are chosen considering the Michels & De Graaf  (2010) framework (inclusion, civic skills, limited deliberation), as well as the high administrative burden of handling CP and the high level of proposals considering issues already in progress (effectiveness). The paper is based on a study of municipal webpages and a case study of CPs in the municipality of Eskilstuna. The amount submitted CP is growing. Still, this initiative for increased public participation in form of CP  both in most municipalities having this instrument as well as in Eskilstuna have some shortcomings regarding inclusiveness, development civic skills, limited deliberation and effectiveness. The intentions with the instrument to involve citizens, children, youths and non-electors with foreign background have merely influenced spreading of this measure among Swedish municipalities. Furthermore, the citizen based terminology in local democracy initiatives is by nature excluding and should be changed to resident based terminology.

Keywords: Citizen proposal, Participatory democracy, Inclusion, Civic skills and virtues, Deliberation