Introduction
The Conference offers those individuals and organisations that are involved in improving their activities and towns or cities a good opportunity to get together, consider and debate, in a space that has been specifically conceived for exchanges of ideas and knowledge, as well as for an extended and in depth, collective examination of that knowledge.
This year, the central axis of the debate will focus on different manners of Reflections on Citizen’s Participation in Processes of Participatory Democracy. The program is being presented with both general -transversal for the activities anticipated as a whole- and specific goals.
Although the themes and goals considered are complex we believe that it is important to deal with these questions insofar as they represent fundamental challenges in terms of the strengthening of participatory democracy and the construction of solidary metropolises. This is the reason why we want to raise them, even though we are aware that this Conference is not going to end the debate.
In order to develop the central theme of the Conference, structured work sessions will be organised based on three axes: social, territorial and methodological. In these sessions we will work on the goals that have been set from these different perspectives, with the aim of providing an overall response to the full complexity of the question.
Overall goals
The main idea that has been established is to work on democratic progress, improvement and deepening, and also through focusing the debate on how to increase participation in processes of participatory democracy.
Today, our local practices –in the diversity of their contents and the courses that they take– have a history, as well as elements to contribute and include in order to achieve their goals. This is why we have proposed a Conference that will articulate reflections and exchanges that are based on the contributions made by the different political and technical representatives, experts, associations, involved citizens and researchers intervening as speakers with regard to the local practices that they have introduced in their municipalities.
Specific goals
The debate will focus on the following questions:- What level of citizens’ participation do we have to achieve in our process?
- Who will take part in the process, who will not, and why?
- What does this balance imply for our processes? What are the dangers?
- What responsibilities do local powers and civil society have with regard to increasing participation?
Thematic axes
The purpose of the simultaneous workshops is to work on the central theme, using the three specific axes as a starting point:- Social Axis: To debate the participation and absence of determined groups and communities in participatory processes. On the basis of specific experiences we will attempt to understand the why and the how of these processes of exclusion and, at the same time, take note of the importance that such non-existent voices may have in the construction of processes of participatory democracy.
- Methodological Axis: To work on whether or not some local practices that are undertaken can voluntarily exclude sectors of citizens. We think that some of the factors that condition participation, and which can be methodologically approached, would be the diversity of the processes, to the extent that the different groups that make up a society are heterogeneous; quality of information; dissemination; training for those that promote these processes and clarity with regard to the rules of play.
- Territorial Axis: To look at the existence of the less participatory territories in our participatory democratic space on the basis of the following questions: - Why do some territories participate less than others? - How can we contribute to reducing these differences?